[CIVIL WAR]. Soldier's letter with drawing of "Picket life in Virginia," by Myren Herbert, 21st "Buffalo" New York Regiment, who deserted 9 months later. "Head Quarters, Camp Rogers," 5 October 1861."

6 pages, 7 1/2 x 9 1/2, and one leaf 4 1/2 x 7 1/4 in. Creasing, with a few minor holes/separations at creases, toning.

Herbert writes to his mother, in part: "I supose [sic] you have heard before this time how we have driven the rebels back but I supose I can illustrate the facks [sic] and picture to your immaganation [sic] the pertickelers [sic] better than all the news papers in lockport...I supose that you know in the first place that we belong to Gen Wadsworths Brigade and that our regiment is the right of the brigade so you see we have to take the lead in every movement that is made...on Saturday Sept 27th 1861 just before sundown the long role was sounded about a half a mile from us when our drum major took it into his head that he would have us started...when it was not more than 10 minutes that old Wadsworth came rideing [sic] into camp and gave the word to move towards munsons [sic] hill and I can asshure [sic] you it was not long before we was on the tramp we marched about 3 miles and it began to get dark when Genl Mcleland [sic] met us on a hill and asked the ??? what regiment it was when he told him it was the galent [sic] 21st he then asked us if we could take munsons hill we all began to holler yes yes yes says he boys go double quick and don't you give one inch of ground take it if you all die in the attemp [sic] and such tall walking was never done any better than that night."

He then relates how the 2nd Michigan had arrived at the hill before them, writing: "...but the buffalo Boys could not but be a little angry at themselves and everyboddy [sic] els [sic] for being late but the hill is taken any way."

After taking Mason's Fort and working on their encampment, some men from Company E went "out on the advance lines on picket," including Herbert, who wrote of the experience: "we had a first rate time we staid [sic] their [sic] 24 hours when we was releved [sic] the enemy was within a stones through [sic] of us but as we are not alowed [sic] to fire on them we had no trouble at all..."

Herbert then makes what he feels is an important distinction, detailing the way he and his "Buffalo Boys" deal with the closeness of the rebel soldiers on picket and comparing it to the way the supposedly less friendly "Oswego Boys" might deal with them, writing: "our boys have talked with them a number of times and they called to some of the rebel pickets to come over and take a drink with them they came up to our pickets and after drinking from their own canteens exchanged canteens and had a game of cards together but just as shure as the oswego boys get out their they will not come back without killing some rebels...they say that the 21st Buffalo are all men and are to [sic] much of jentlemen [sic] to have it said that they will murder any one but in a fair fite..."

Letter accompanied by a pencil sketch captioned to lower right, "Picket life in Virginia." 8 x 5 in. (creased, with discoloration/staining). Depicts three soldiers in camp, including one sitting down to eat and saying, "This meat aint [sic] half done," another standing over the fire saying, "Well why don't you wate [sic]," and a third man lying down with his cup held over his head saying, "give me some coffee." The three soldiers and other items in the illustration are labelled with numbers that correspond to numbers in the letter identifying the items. "No 1 is your son myren taking his morning meal and pritty [sic] made because the meat is not done...No 2 is my ??? companion that has been with me every place I go he gos [sic] his name is johnson he is from lockport he worked last winter for carter in the tin shop he thinks I had better wate [sic] untill [sic] the meat is done. No 3 is one of the boys that belongs to our company but is so lazy he can scarcely walk he thinks we had better hand him some coffee...No 4 is our guns stacked just by the side of us No 5 is my haversack hanging on a tree with bread for us three in it. No 6 is jonsons canteen cup plate knife and fork laying on the ground...just back of them trees is the enemy but they dare not come where we are nor we dare not go where they are..."

Myren Herbert enlisted as a private on 7 May 1861 at Buffalo, New York, mustering into Company E of the 21st New York Infantry Regiment, also known as the "1st Buffalo Regiment," later that month. He deserted on 13 July 1862, just a month and a half before his regiment suffered a significant loss at Second Bull Run.