Autograph letter signed by George W. Arnold, Co. K, 44th New York Infantry. Headquarters 44th Regt. N.Y.S.V., Virginia, 31 March 1862. 2 pages, folio, 7 15/16 x 12 1/4 in. 

George W. Arnold was 22 years old when he enlisted on 8 August 1861 in Albany as Private, mustering into Company K of the 44th New York Infantry, also known as the People's Ellsworth Regiment. Shortly thereafter, he was promoted to a wagoner. 

This letter by Arnold was written early in his enlistment, shortly after his regiment arrived in Virginia to join the Peninsula Campaign and shortly before their engagement at the Siege of Yorktown. 

He recounts their movements and their arrival at Fortress Monroe, where they were able to see the Monitor very shortly after the Battle of Hampton Roads: "Arrived at Fortress Monroe on the 24th all safe and sound. We sailed within 50 feet of the "Monitor." I had a fair view of her. She looks like a large iron platform with a hogs head at one end. That is the most I or any man can say relative to her. Even when he goes aboard of her. I could see the marks on her quite plainly where the Merrimack hit the cheese box. It looks like the marks on an old piece of iron after being hit with a hammer merely started to rust a little."

Arnold continues his letter with a report on moving into Big Bethel in preparation for the siege of Yorktown: "The 26th we came up near "Little Bethel"...then we started for "Big Bethel." I think there were 15,000 troops were out that day...I took a good view of the old battle ground. I could see the marks of the cannon balls against the trees and where the took the limbs of the trees &c. Well we marched up to the said Bethel and found quite good earthworks there but no enemy. They had a few days before taken their cannon away. Just beyond "Big Bethel" we found a squad of rebel cavalry. One of Berden's Sharpshooters fetched one of them...The papers say the rebels were 1500 strong and that we did not occupy Big Bethel. Neither is true. The troops have nearly all got here now. We expect Mc[Clellan] every day and so soon as he comes, we shall march on Yorktown on the York River. I was in the Fortress yesterday. It is noble work."

Excellent content regarding the Monitor and the very earliest stages of the Peninsula Campaign. 

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