Tuesday, October 9, 2012

1862 October 10 Fort Tillinghast

                   Fort Tillinghast, Oct. 10th/62
  My Dear Wife
                           Yours of the 6th Oct I had
the pleasure of receiving last night.  I am in
first rate health and spirits. You would be
astonished to see me eat my rations.  We
have put some new cooks in the cookhouse
and we now get our rations cooked a great
deal better than we did by the old cooks.  You
speak of having rainy dull weather last week.
We had very dry and hot weather with one light
shower.  To-day it is foggy but will burn off soon.
We have got things nearly all fixed up for
winter quarters. We could have gone back to
Fort Albany this week if we had wished to
Capt Chandler had his choice whether to
go or stay here, he thought it best for us to
stay here, as we have got fixed up in pretty
good shape, and it would be a good deal of
trouble to move, I am glad we are to stay
here.  There is no doubt now, I think, about
our staying here this winter.  We are having a
new cookhouse, and oven built, and that looks

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like staying here this winter.  Wm said nothing
to me when he was here, about  coming to war.
I believer we did'nt say much about the war, it
has got to be an old story and we dont think
much about it any way.  We think it about "played
out". You speak of sending a barrell or half barrell, I think
that you can send a box cheaper than either.  I want
you if you do send, to send me some good butter.
We can get stuff called butter of the Sutler, for
which he charges 35cts per pound, he gets nothing
out of me however, About the Quilt, it wants to
be a little longer than a man, and a little wider than
two men, the Bed Sack you need not get, We can
get one here of a friend for half a dollar, which is
wide enough for two to sleep on.  I see by the papers
that Corporal Keith (the one that paid attention
to Ada Lamplier) was killed at the battle of
Antietam, I saw him and had a long talk with
him at Clouds Mills, when we went on the advance.
He was a good soldier, and liked by all hi s comrades.
My Paper and Envelopes, I sometimes buy, I have
had a considerable given me, We can get such things
of Pedlars who come around camp, sometimes we

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take things away from them, and then tell them
to leave, which they do in double quick time, and
especially those that try to Jew us.  You would be
surprised to see how slick some of the "Boys" will "shive"
things away from the pedlars, they do it for deviltry more
than anything else.  There is'nt much probability of our
being paid off, before next month, I shall try and send
you fifty dollars, when we are paid off.  I want you if
you send a box, to send me some n\more of the Indian
Weed, I dont chew any of it now, I merely smoke a very
little, We can get Persimmons now, they are very nice.
I am obliged to you for that three cent stamp, but they
dont pass for money out here, I can use it however
on a letter, it is the other kind that goes for money.
I am very glad that you have made up your
mind to go to Lyceum Lectures, because I
know that you will enjoy yourself much
by so doing. I want you to enjoy yourself all you
can while you are young, because I shall come
home one of these days, and then we will settle
down and talk over the past, with our darling
children around us. I guess there is a good time
coming for all of us yet.  I believe it strong

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Col. Greene has gone home to Boston on a furlough.
I believe he is not very well, there is some talk that
he aint coming back to the regiment. I suppose
that is all camp talk.  Col Wright is here sick
that is all camp talk.  Col Wright is here sick
with Fever and Jaundice.  I am sorry for him as
he is a very fine man, a perfect gentleman;
  I have'nt much more to write now, I will
try and write again Sunday, I hope to receive
a letter from you Saturday.  If there is anything
that I dont write that you would like to
know, please ask me and I will answer if
I am able,so to do.  Good day, God bless and
keep you and our dear children from all harm
is the constant prayer of your loving
husband.        
                                             Robert
N.B.  Please write with a little better ink and
much oblige,---R


Robert, an unidentified soldier from Lynn, Mass., in Co. M, 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery


MSS 1242

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