1862 May 4 Fort Albany Arlington, Va.

Fort Albany May 4th/62
Sunday eve
Dear Wife

I was somewhat disssapoi-
nted in not having a letter from
you last night.  I didn't find any
fault because, I reasoned that you
had so much of other duties to
attend to, that you could not find
time to write, I have no doubt
you will make it up when you have
more leisure, I hardly know what
to write tonight, We have just heard
a rumor, that Yorktown has been
evacuated by the rebels, but we can't
put much faith in rumors
here, any more than you can
there, The weather has been very
pleasant here for the last few days,
everything in nature looks very
beautiful, We have had quite a number
of Lady and Gentlemen visitors; or
spectators, to day, to see us go
trhough our

[page 2]
morning dress parade, We have got to
be pretty well drilled soldiers I am
tell you, I think you would like
to see us go through our Dress Pa-
rade, We were reviewed today by
Col Greene and complimented very
highly, he said we drilled a great
deal better than some companies
who had been out here six or
eight months.  Col Greene is liked
here very much, especially by the
privates, he is a very strict disciplin-
arian, very just, and honorable
in all his doings towards Officrs
or Privates, his wife is here now.
I have been to meeting today, I have
been every pleasant  sunday since
we came here, I dont think it
does me much good to go, and
then again I dont think it does
me any hurt.  I think our chaplain
is a well meaning man, but I dont
exactly like his style of preaching

[page 3]
I wish I had something of interest to
write to you about, but I have not, about
the same doings and sayings, are going
the rounds here from day to day.
There is one thing or saying that is about
this evening, and that is, that Col Green
said this afternoon, that if the report
of the taking of Yorktown was true
he would have us on Boston Comm-
on, next fourth of July, but as the
saying is here "I dont see it."
I believe it is about time for roll call
so I will try and close, for the Boys
are makeing the "cursedest" noise
right behind me that ever was heard.
they have got into a regular gale
of fun and frollic, and the table is
rocking like a ship in a heavy sea
I think there is no use to write it, for you to know it
There goes the drum for roll call and
I must close.  I hope to hear from you in a
day or two; at most, Write as often as you can for
you cant imagine how-very welcome your letters
are to me. A kiss for our darlings and love to all,
It seems to me that I should see you soon--Robert

[page 4]
Please send me postage stamp
If you send a box ask your
Father if he cant get one or
two pairs of Taps for my Boots
and shoes, good solid ones.

News by papers of evacuation of
Yorktown this morning
Our boys dont like it very well

William Batchelder Greene, 1819-1878, the multifaceted Colonel of the  14th Massachusetts Infantry and the 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery was a veteran of the Seminole War, a classical scholar, Unitarian minister, abolitionist, author of books on banking and transcendentalism, and eventually anarchist.

from an unidentified soldier in the 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, to  his wife Priscilla, of Lynn, Mass.

MSS 1242