Written by Edward Dargan, enlisted Dec. 18, 1862 in Company B, New York 176 Volunteer Infantry to his brother and sister asking for a long letter from them and dropping subtle hints that they need to write more often. Writes of deaths in family, both written in ink in a clear hand on black lined mourning letter sheets with matching cover. The 176 began there active service doing garrison duty in New Orleans, but soon with in a number of skirmishes and battles in the Western theater, later returning to the eastern theater and fighting with Sherman against Early in the Shenandoah.