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Lincoln Barracks Washington D.C. May 13th 1865
Dear Brother Eddy, for that is the old familiar name. Your kind and welcome letter is received. I am glad, you may be sure, to hear from you again. God Bless you And yours. I enlisted first in the 12th N Y State Millitia for 3 months service, And afterwards served two more short terms in the same regt. And when that was over I enlisted for 3 years in the Cavalry Service of which I have now served nearly two years. I cannot now tell you in detail all that I have passed through during the War. But I have fought the Rebels more than once And the last and hardest fight I had with them previous
to shooting Booth, was on the 24th of June last, I faced and fought against a Whole Column of them, All alone none but God being with me to help me My being in a large field and they being in the Road with a high fence between us enabled me to hold out against them as long as i did. But after driving back some that came out from thier column to take me they finally had the fence torn down And then Closed around me And when my Pistol gave out giving no more fire I was captured by them, And sent to Andersonville Georgia. There God was good to me
sparing my life while only another and myself lived to return out of 14 men who were there of my Own Company. But Bless the Lord a Score of Souls were converted right on the spot where I lay for 3 months without any shelter, And hundreds were converted in that place for many meetings were held in different parts of the Bull Pen.
I was exchanged at Savannah on the 19th of November, Making my Imprisonment 5 months all but 5 days. After being in the Hospital at Annapolis awhile I had a furlough home for 30 days. And then returned to duty with my Regt. I am still with
it and do not know how long I may have to stay. As I did not get my Discharge from the Secretary of War which I asked for After Shooting Booth. The fair of the Sanitary Commission coming off on the 30th at Chicago will have a life size picture of me I expect on Exhibition. They wrote for it and the Revolver with which Booth was shot But that has been stolen from me since And I have only another in place of it. If George Gibson still lives at State St. Albany please send me word I would like to write Mr. and Mrs. Gibson who were so kind to us all.
I have not yet received any part of the Reward. As the trial is occupying all the attention of the Authorities who have the matter in hand.
Your Old friend and Brother in Christ
Boston Corbett Sergt, Co L. 16th N Y Cav