1862 September 7 Fort Tillinghast

[On patriotic stationery with a printed illustration of an American eagle.]

                             Sunday sep 7  [1862?]
                        Fort Tillinghast
Dear Parents
              It is sabbath they say
yet we do not realize it this morn
I have not heard the Bell calling
to worship – but in its place
I have heard all day (it is now
about 3 Oclock) the tramp of armed
men.  the rattle of Artillery and
Baggage by this fort – I was
on guard yesterday and last
night and a Main Regt. near
the fort were buisy most all
the night in getting ready and
starting off for the Potomac – but
[letter lined out] my last beat just after light
it seemed so still and pleasant a
soft mild wind blowing from
the South it realy for a while

[page 2]
did seem like a sabbath moin morn
- But soon a cloud of dust begun
to rise away on the road and
a Brigad came in sight marching
for where and what we only guess
- I suppose you now are about
eating your Sabbath meal   I tell you
I should like to be there about
this time.  I would like to have
a good cup of tea and a piece
of pie [-]  We Boys often speak
of home and the folks – but it is
the oftnest we speak of home
when we are eating our rations
- We live now in very good shape
we have soft Bread most of the time
now but when on our march it was
that hard pilot stuff and most of
the regt in the field active service
it is about all they get – The regt.
that are at forts as garrison have
good living to what those in
the field get – for it is

[page 3]
impossible to carry much of this
soft Bread - - I should like
to look in on you – come in
and throw myself on the loung and
then go and play a time on the
serephim – but these are in the
future when we get this rebelion
put under the sod – It looks
rather dark now with our army
all back where they were a year
ago   all back here under the guns
of these forts but still I think
we are not any worse off than
a year ago and we have a much
better navy –While the rebels are
worse off in the loss of men that
they cannot replace – We have loss many
men but we can and shall replace them
our side seems ready to find more men
after they have been spilled there blood
like water that officers might have
a chance to win a name – but
which they have not done – I do

[page 4]
4   hope
we shall yet find a man that
is able to lead us through this
red-sea-  I see men every day
that have been out in these late fights
under McDougall and Pope and they are
discouraged and say they could not
fire another gun under such leaders
but of course they will have to fight
where they are sent = We meet very
often some of the Boys that went
from Dudley and around there
we saw a day or two ago W. Taylor
and Geo Allen   they look quite hearty
and strong – but say they have seen
some hard times and all that
have come out here say they the
same – But all wish to stay and
see it through – though they would
like to see it through soon –
     Johnson has just got a letter
from home   he says they write you have
not heard from me – I don’t know
how it is for Ellen wrote she had
got a letter and I understood her
that you had got my letters   any
way I have wrote 3 or 4 and have
got one from John and one from Mother
but I guess you have before this got
them – I suppose you things in
old Dudley look rather dull but they
must expect things to be dull till
this war is over – But things here
are lucky enough – But does it
pay – I think it will pay if
our government only will get in
ernest and I think it will be

[The rest of this letter from an unidentified Union soldier  is missing.]

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 828