1862 August 6 Fort Runyon

                    Fort Runyon,  Aug 6th 1862

My Dear Wife,
                  I have just received yours of
Aug 4th  I did not expect to write to-day, but since
receiving your welcome letter, I have changed
my mind, We are having some awfull hot wea-
ther, Day before yesterday (Monday) the ther. stood
98 in the shade, and yesterday at 99, today it is
not quite so hot, thee is a little breeze blowing.
Yesterday, for all it was so hot, "Old Abe," Sec Seward,
Gen Sturgis, Gen Whipple, and other officers,
visited all the (or most of the) forts around here
and there was a nosy time generally. In
the afternoon there was a review of all the
Regmts stationed around here,  They were received
up by Fiarfax Seminary, which is about four
miles and a half from here.  It was too bad
to take the men out, in that awfull hot
sun, with the ther at 99 in the shade. There
were nearly four hundred of the men that
had to lave the ranks on their march
there.  One man died after arriving at the
ground, All this was to please "Old Abe" and the
other old fogies that accompanied him.

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We who are at Runyon get clear of all there
drills, whereas if we were at Fort Albany, we should
have to go. You ask me how far it is from here to
Fort Albany. By the road, it is less than half a
mile, in a direct line it looks about a far as it
does from your house to Swampscott. It is true
I believe that the 14th is to be recruited to 1800
men, at any rate I have heard so at least a hundred
times since last march.  I dont know who is
to be taken from our Co for a Lieutenant, but
I think it will be Earp, he told me a few
days ago that his name had gone home.
Capt Chandler is now acting Major at Ft
Albany, our former Major (Washburn) is
being court marshalled, for defrauding the
government, and the soldiers, of, they say
some 80,000 dollars. Capt C. being the senior
commissioned officer takes Washburn's place
untill he is proved innocent or guilty. If you
can sell Wm or anybody else the shop, do s
by all means, that is, if your father dont
want it. You many sell it for any price that
you can get,  I am very glad that you have
sent, or will send, another bottle of Dr True's
medicine.   I meant to have written to you
for one in my last, but forgot it I think

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it is splendid medicine.  I have had occasion
to use it once or twice, and have given it to
others a number of times, and in every case
it has worked like a charm.  You can tell Mrs
Perkins that her son is still in my Mess, that
I shall go back to my Mess when I leave here
I have two of my mess with me, here at Runyon
Richardson and Pedrick.  by the way, did you
ever know this boy, Pedrick, he is a first
rate fellow, smart as a trap, and very
willing to oblige, he has sent home forty
dollars of his wages since he has been here
I should like to have been at home, and went
to meeting with you and Ernie.  I am
glad he was a good boy and did'nt make
any noise.  I dont feel much like
writing any more tonight.  I know
you will excuse, and I will try and
write you something more interesting
if I can.  Accept my truest fondest
love, dear wife, and little ones, and ever
believe me the same now and evermore
                           Yours
                                        Robert

Unidentified soldier form Lynn, Mass., in 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, Co. M.

MSS 1242