1862 July 16 Fort Albany

Fort Albany, July 16th/62

Dear Wife,
Yours of the 13th I have
received, I was very glad to hear from you,
more especially at this time than at other
before.  I was afraid you might hear reports,
as there are plenty of them going the
rounds, of different kinds, and styles,
and that they might worry you, and give
you much uneasiness.  I perceive by the tone
of your letter, that you are in very good sp-
irits, Put no confidence in any reports you
may hear, about the movements of troops.
I have heard I suppose fifty times, that we
were to be sent in the advance, but such,
I am perfectly well satisfied, is not the
case. Dont give yourself any uneasiness about
our going away from here, for this is a very
important post that we occupy, and it
is'nt one regiment in fifty, that can
fill our place.  There is a man by the name of
Perkins, at home now enlisting men to
fill up this Regmt that dont look much live
moving. Do you think it does?  "I dont see it"

[page 2]
You ask me what I think about the war.  My answer
is, I dont think much about it.  We do'nt see or hear
much, I should not mistrust there was any any, if I
went by the looks of things here.  To me, and all
of us, it seems like playing soldiers, or like some
of the "trainings" that we used to go to when
we were young.  Sometimes we see troops moving
from Washington towards Alexandria but if
we did'nt know where they were going to, I do'nt
believe we should take a second look at them.
The last time I went to Alexandria on Provost Guard
I had an opportunity to step into the Marshall
House, for a moment, You will reccollect sic] that the
lamented Ellsworth was shot there.  I tore
off a little piece of paper from the wall near
the spot where he fell, I send you the same,
I have never been to Washington since I went
over with friend Earp soon after we came here.
If I should go over I should probably call
upon John B.  It is a great deal of trouble
for us to get over to W. now, only one man
is allowed to go each day and each man
must have a pass signed by Brig Gen
Whippple, Col Greene, Major Washburn, and

[page 3]
the Capt of the Co he belongs to, so you see it
is some trouble to get to W.  About those
shirts, I dont think it worth awhile to go to
any trouble about them, I do'nt care much for
them myself, and if I want any I dont know
but that I can buy them here as cheap
as you can get them up, and send them
here.  There is plenty of pedlars here, with shirts
and everything else, every pay day, and as long as
the "boys" have any money, I have just been
reading the Lynn Reporter.  I see by that, that
you are having quite a pretty little excitement
there, about this drafting business. I wish
we could have some excitement, just enough
to stir us up a little.  We're getting to be kind
of lazy and indolent. By the way, Tom Full
of my mess, had another box come yesterday,
filled with "goodies" as usual we had a great
time eating them, and enjoyed ourselves
hugely.  I see that Ernie has not forgotten
how to tease you, yet, see me just as though
I could hear him now.  How I should like
to see him and sissy, not omitting yourself
however I presume you all would like to see me too, so we
will call it even and wait for that time to come.

[page 4]
I cant think of much more to scribble tonight
a I feel so hot, and kind of tired.  You must
not find any fault, if I do'nt write long, or
interesting letters, for to tell you the truth I
am (as we say here) about "played out" for
subjects and you know that my head is
rather thick, and that original ideas, dont
flourish very well there, such as I have I give unto
you freely.  I shall expect to hear from you
on Saturday next, I dont know how ma-
ny letters you owe me, but I think they
must be quite numerous, for I have
two letters a week, to you, nearly every week
I have been here, About that picnic, I would
go if I were you, and take Ernie if it is
not too much trouble, I think you can enjoy
yourself, but this advice will get to you
rather late I am thinking, if it dont, you
will please take it,  It is getting late, and
as we have to keep  good hours, I will close
do be carefull of yourself, and I know you
will of our darlings.  I feel that I shall be
permitted to see you before long, until
that time be of good cheer, May God bless
and have you in his keeping, is and ever
will be the prayer of your living husband,
                                            Robert

P.S.
any thing that you want to inquire about, please do
it and I will answer.

Robert, an unidentified soldier in the 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery


MS 1242