{ Bivouac Near Centerville Va
{ June 16^th 1863

    It has been a very long time since I have written you and I have no doubt that you think you are entirely forgotten, but such is not nor has been the case - But I am a very poor hand to apologize - so I shall not make the attempt - Suppose, however, it is "better late than never", so here goes. Marched from Warrenton Junction to this place yesterday and have been lying here the most of the day awaiting orders, and not knowing when another opportunity would be presented I have been writing quite a number of letters, and my conscience would not permit me to quit without writing to my much neglected Cousin Louise -
    How soon we are to start or where we are to go are questions that soldiers never ask, or that are seldom answered if asked - All that we have to do is to wait patiently for time to solve the problem - Dame Rumor says today, that the rebels are marching into Maryland and Pennsylvania and judging from our own movements I should say that there was some foundation for the story. However I have the greatest confidence in General Hooker and believe that the Rebels will suffer the greatest defeat they have experienced since hostilities commenced if they attempt any such movements.
    I shall not attempt to tell you of all our changes of location, and incidents of interest that have transpired since my last letter, for looking at my diary I see that it was written last Christmas - Who would have thought that it had been so long, or that time would fly so rapidly - However you can trace my movements by following the track of the Cavalry Corps - our Regt. is in the 1^st Brigade, Col. Kilpatrick's until recently; 3^d Division Gen. Grigg's. I have been with the Rgt. all the time. There you have the skeleton you can fill in the details to suit yourself - I'll venture to say this - you wont exaggerate any -
    A week ago to day we were across the Rappahannock fighting Stuart at Brandy Station and having pretty warm work, but guess we left our mark. A cavalry charge is a very exciting affair, but I must confess that I dont think too much such excitement conducive to health - What our exact loss is I do not know. Lt. Col. Irvine was wounded and captured, Lt. Robb killed & Capt. Gitman & Lt. King wounded - Some forty enlisted men missing, but how many of them were injured I am unable to say - I am speaking of our regiment. Our Company was very fortunate having but one man wounded - I saw a Sergt. from another regt. who was right by my side shot dead. As one of our men remarked I didn't care anything about their "small shooting" but the music of shells bursting around was not altogether pleasant to the ear -
    I think I would just as lief hear a piano -- We have had no rain. Not so much as a good shower since the 10^th of May and everything is drying up - The ground is as dry as an ash heap and dust is a staple comodity - You can have no idea of the dust that a Column of Cavalry will raise in marching -
    It is as much worse than a threshing machine & as that is worse than a sleigh ride, when there is capital sleighing - So you may know that it is not altogether pleasant -
    So Mary and Charlie are married at last eh? Ha - I would have liked to have been at the wedding. I would have got a furlough and been present if it had been possible - but it was not - Now I want all the particulars - Everything - & Carman and Miss Sheldon - well who comes next? - I am sure that I shant know anyone when the war is ended even if that much to be wished for event should occur soon - All my old friends and acquaintances either dead or married - Oh dear! What will I do!
    Well I wish them all much happiness - Now when you receive this I want you to be very generous, not wait as I have - but sit down and write me a real good long letter - You may think from my not writing sooner that I do not appreciate letters when they come, but if you could only see with what eagerness the arrival of the mail is watched for, and with what avidity they are seized and contents devoured when one is so fortunate as to receive letters, you would readily believe that letters from ones friends are the most acceptable of all offerings - I received a letter from Ally a day or two ago which I am very proud of - There are many of mature years who could not equal it - She is making great improvement -
    I wish to be kindly remembered to Mr. & Mrs. Brown and all other friends.
    Write soon and often - Do not serve me as some of my correspondents, who seemed to be very anxious to hear from me but failed to answer my letters! Do you ever hear from Miss Coley? Where is Mary Slade? I really dont know anything more about what is going on at home there if I had not heard heard from there since my departure -
    Now, dont forget to write to

Your Cousin

Guy Wynkoop

Source:

Wynkoop, Guy, "Wynkoop, Guy; 10th N.Y. Cavalry, Co. H., Letters (1862-1863), 2 items" New York State Library, Cultural Education Center, Albany, New York, New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections, Collection Call Number: 19402, [8 pages].

    Richard Wynkoop's 1904 edition of the Wynkoop Genealogy, (pages 155-156), has this to say about Guy and his family:

    780. Nile Frost Wynkoop, (Benjamin 444, Benjamin 178, Benjamin 53, Benjamin 8, Cornelius 1,) born November 9, 1807: married, October 15, 1840, Sarah Anne Heermans, born May 23, 1820, sister to Phoebe, who married his brother Alonzo [777]. He lived on a part of the old plantation of Maj. William Wynkoop [138]. The compiler received from him valuable information, and interesting letters.
    Children of Nile F. and Sarah A. Wynkoop:
1316. Guy: b. July 15, 1841, in Chemung, N. Y.: d. Aug. 30, 1864, in the rebel pen at Andersonville. He left school, when nearly ready for college, and enlisted in the 10th Reg., N. Y. Cavalry. His party were surrounded, while defending a ford, and Guy was captured and imprisoned.
1317. Sayer: b. Mch. 12, 1844: m., Nov. 23, 1875, Arabella Clark, in Zilwaukie, Mich. He had served 3 years, in the war for the Union.
1318. Delia Antoinette: b. Sept. 29, 1846: m. Henry S. Bridgeman.
1319. Alice Louise: b. Sept. 1, 1852: m. Charles Rockwell.
1320. Philip Heermans: b. Sept. 25, 1854.
1321. Ada Bell: b. Oct. 31, 1857.
1322. Joseph Frost: b. May 26, 1864.

    Additional information:

Franklin County, N.Y. G.A.R. Posts:     Sgt. Guy Wynkoop, Co. H, 10th NY Cavalry. Joined at Waverly Oct. 1861 as Sgt., age 20; captured at Sulphur Springs, VA, Oct. 13, 1863; died Aug. 30, 1864 at Andersonville, GA.

History of Tompkins, Schuyler, Chemung, Tioga 1879; Chapter 52 - Town of Chemung, Chemung County, New York:

Guy Wynkoop, private, Co. H, 10th N.Y. Cav.; enl. November, 1861, taken prisoner Oct. 12, 1863; died at Andersonville.

Sager [sic] Wynkoop, private, Co. E, 29th N.Y. Regt.; enl. October, 1861; disch.

Andersonville Prisoner Profile:

                   Andersonville Prisoner Profile

          Code No:  17334
         Grave No:  7334
        Last Name:  WYNCOOP
       First Name:  GUY
             Rank:  SERGEANT
          Company:  H
         Regiment:  10
            State:  NY
Branch of Service:  CAVALRY
    Date of Death:  8/30/1864
   Cause of Death:  SCORBUTUS
          Remarks:  G. WYNCOOP, H 12 NY CAVALRY [1][2][3]
       Reference*:  p 44 [3]; p 663 [48]
   Place Captured:  SULPHER SPRINGS, VA
    Date Captured:  10/12/1863
  Alternate Names:
           Status:  DIED AT ANDERSONVILLE
  More Information  NO
        Available:

* Reference descriptions.

National Park Service
Andersonville National Historic Site
496 Cemetery Road
Andersonville, GA 31711

Reference Descriptions:

3 List of Union Soldiers Buried at Andersonville; Dorence Atwater, 1865.

48 Annual Report of the Adjutant-General of the State of New York for the Year 1894, Volume III, State of New York, 1895.