1862 August 12 Fort Runyon

[letter of "Robert" from Lynn, Massachusetts an unidentified soldier in Co. M, 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, begun on August 10, continues]

Tuesday Morn Aug 12th
I received yours of Aug 6th and 7th last night,
I was'nt expecting one and so was most agreeabley
disappointed,  I am so sorry to hear that Ernie is
in such a bad way.  If I knew what to advise you
to do for him, I would do so,  Have you asked Dr N's
advice lately.  You must try and get along the best
you can with him, I wish he was here with me now.
I have a nice little tent, that we could get along in
quite cosily.  what am I talking about,  this is no
place for women or boys,  I am very glad to hear
that you are in good health, and that your
lameness is better, continue on in the good
way,  I am glad that you did not stay at Fathers
any longer, not but that I like to have you go
there often, but that I do'nt like to leave Ernie
and Georgie together a long while at a time
I think your Father is doing quite a buisness in
the blackberry line. What is he working at this
summer!  Has he got any! I suppose he has
for everybody is telling how scarce help is in Mass.
You dont seem to say much about your Mother
now, How is she?  Is she well, or getting well, or
hold about the same, please let me know,  You

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tell her that I have got some stories to tell
her, when I come home, about going black
berrying, and strawberrying , that will beat her
"down east" stories all to pieces, I don'nt know the
name of that yellow flower, I find and send the
flowers and you find names for them, I have'nt
seen any one that knows the name, Why here
are people who have lived around here all their life
and dont know what Thouroughwert. (I haven't spelt that right)
is, and there is acres of it here, they dont know what
Garget is and there is acres of that, In fact they dont
know much of anything.  Now dont give yourself
any uneasiness about my thick clothes.  We all have
to wear thick clothes when on duty, because our
uniforms are thick, but when not on duty we
can wear almost anything that we can get, I still
wear every day my white shirts, and cotton flannel drawers
sometimes those dark pants that I had when I en-
listed, and sometimes my light blue ones,  Shirts of
all colors ad styles are worn,  You say that a great
many are trembling for fear of a draft, I do
most earnestly hope that there will be one,  then
perhaps, some of those who are now blowing and
knowing so much at home, will find out that

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that they know nothing about the war
You say that I am exempt from the draft
and ask , if I am exempt from the fear.
I can answer truly that I am, I hav'nt known
a moments fear since we came here, I think
no more about the war, than as if I was at home.
Sometimes you wo'nt hear it mentioned for days.
I hear from different sources, that here are a
great many going to Europe and Canada
this summer, as if a few do go from Lynn, it
will be no more than people do in other places
especially those that are called cowards
If ever you hear of an able bodied man under the age of
forty five blowing for his country, after this, and aint
willing to enlist, and take part in puting down
this rebellion, You may set that man down as not
having much patriotism about him, he is either
makeing money at home or else he is a coward.
There are very few exceptions; Six of my boys
went again last night to Gen Hunters place
and "skived" about three bushels of potatoes, and
two bushels of apples, the potatoes are very nice, and the
apples go good after they are stewed.
I believe I hav'nt much more to write this morning.  I
shall expect to hear from you again this week.  In
the meantime I will think of you often, and I trust that
I shall also have a share of your thoughts.  It is all we
can have at present, but I think I can see a happy future
if God so orders it,  Wait patiently my darlings, my love for you
grows stronger every day.  Your in all love Robert

MSS 1242