Letters and diary entries from the corresponding day in the Civil War posted from the holdings of Special Collections, University of Virginia Library.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
1862 September 20 Camp Chase, Va.
Arlington Hights
Camp Chase Sept 2 [1862]
Dear Sister Helen
It is raining –
this afternoon so we don’t have to
drill and I have been writing to
Seth and to Campbell but haven’t
forgotten you – I wrote to Hattie
Sunday also to Chas. and Elbe and
rather expected a letter to day –
but the mail has come but none
for me. Aaron had one from home
and he says his things are on the
way and some thing for me also –
I can’t complain about not
having had letters enough for I
think you have all done well
and I have had my share,
but one can’t have too many
letters from home you know
Everything is lovely down
here I am perfectly well and
contented, begin to get used
to soldering lying around
in the dirt I wonder
how it would seem to crawl
into a good clean bed once
more, but I don’t expect to
have that pleasure for some
time but I think that the
4th of July next will see us all
home again I suppose of course
you have seen the President’s
Proclamation, isn’t it glorious
I think it is worth more to us
than 30000 men would be to
day I only hope it will pass
Congress if it dont we will
just go over there ourselves and
see about it – We had another
grand Review yesterday about
the same troops and they were
all brigaded except our Regt.
Gen Casey said that we did
“splendidly” and I guess that
we will return to it –
or his body guard – I hope we
get some where soon as it
is dreadful dirty and dusty
here and water is so scarce
But these Reviews are a big
nuisance I begin to think it
is awful tedious and the sun
was out bright and it is
dreadful hot down here now
5 or 6 fainted but we managed
to best the rest after all
You ought to have seen the
way Gen Casey took off his hat
as we “dipped our colors”
Col. Wright acted as Brigade
General that day and if he
dident feel big – shirts one[?]
I suppose he expects to wear
that little star himself one
of these days – We are
getting along first rate there is
but 1 or 2 sick in our Company
one has got a discharge and
will be in Meriden this week
I guess his ‘name is’ Griswold
and if Chas sees him he would
tell him all about us better
than any one can write it
I heard just now that
we are to go to Washington
tomorrow but dont know as it is so
shouldn’t wonder though I am
ready for any thing – Chas in
his last letter said that Father
would teach until Spring but not
longer and that he would sell
his place any day if he could – now
[Howard continues this letter in the margin on page one.]
I don’t want to have him
sell it at all I want to
feel that I have got a
home in Meriden and
that if I ever get through
with this war I can
find you all there
just as I left you
tell him not to
move again to get
into some business
and stay in Meriden
perhaps he could
go as Book Agent
for some large
house – write me
soon and tell me all the
news –
Charles must write and tell me about the navy –
[Howard continues in the margin on page two.]
When are they going to put up the Organ in the church?
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 12668
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