Thursday, August 16, 2012

1862 August 17 Fort Runyon

[letter of Robert, an unidentified soldier from Lynnn in Co. M., 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, continues]

                                              Sun Morn Aug 17th
Good morning again dear wife,  I have had a good
night of rest and sleep, and feel in excellent health
and spirits this morning, this is indeed a beautiful
Sabbath morning, everything looks pleasant and
fair, The  bells are ringing over to Washington for
church, I should really like to go this morning
and hear a good sermon, it is a long time since
I have heard anything to my mind in the shape
of preaching   We have some news this morning.
It is the liberation of Col Corcoran.  he will
probably be in Washington this afternoon, We
shall see him, or the steamer probably go up
the river, We have a good glass, and can tell

[page 3]
the Steamer he will come up on.  As I sit
here writeing I can look up and see over to
and around Washington, up and down the
Potomac, and certainly it does not look
much like war, everything is so still and
quiet, it has the apearance of anything but
war, I sometimes wonder if there really is
a war going on in our beautiful country,
No my dear, I dont want to know if you were
to Boston to spend all of my money as you
call it, but I want to know why you didnt
buy your silk and delaine and anything
else that you wanted,  If you dont spend
what money you want to, why, I wont earn
any, I do'nt know but that I shall be tem=
pted to give in my wages to "Uncle Sam" that
would be generous would'nt it, I want you
to spend my money on yourself, Ernie & Sissy
you will much oblige and please your obt
servant  R [?] M In regard to the boy Pedrick's
money, he sends it to his sister, and she
puts it in the bank for him, I believe his
Sister works with Eben Wardwell,

[page 4]
How do the folks get along enlisting there
in Lynn,  I hear they are getting along finely
in other places, but I dont hear much from
Lynn, I did expect to see some one from there
ere this, but have about given up the idea, I
guess Lynn patriotism is nearly "played
out" playing soldier is a very fine and pretty
thing, but when it comes to reality, why, thats
another thing, taint quite so nice, all the "gals"
can't see us, bah! paper soldiers,  Dont you think
they are to be pitied? I do, Do you really think
F W will come to war, What will Ada say, she
will fuss some I guess.  I think there will now
be a chance for Garland, to enlist in the 14th
if he wants to, I believe that is what Capt
Chandler is at home for, I hear that about
one hundred sick and lame ones are to be
discharged soon, and if that is the case why
their places will have to be filled, 6 oclk PM
today has been quite lively Two Regmts have passed,
The Penn 128th and 122d makeing 5 regmts that
have gone by here since Friday night, each regmt had
one thousand and ten men. We have been expecting the
Mass 33d all day it has'nt passed yet.  I beleive it
is over to Washington.

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