Fort Marshall.

Baltimore Jan 9^th 1862.

 

Dear Father.

            Yours of Dec 29^th came to hand a few days ago. it found me enjoying good health, as usual.

 

            I had about concluded you had all froze up as I had not heard from you in some time I wrote Parna a few days ago Times are very monotinous here. no news to write or events to write about I receive but few letters now a days. I yesterday recd one from Silas wood. they are still moving on in the even tenor of their way John Wood is in Cannada. Uncle Sam's folks have not moved yet. they are not certain where or when they will go. Perhaps Uncle Sam knows, but like the head officers in the War Department he keeps it to himself. I think I told you Burr Crist had joined a company and gone into camp. Poor Burr. Uncle Harry has two or three boys in the service. Our nice weather appears to be drawing to a close I never saw as nice weather in winter as we have had till a few days ago. it snowed some 4 inches and remained quite cool, till to day. it is raining and thawing out and is Oh how disagreeable in camp. A camp in a wet time is only compared to a cattle yard Men cannot nor will not remain in their quarters and there is no side walks. And they soon tramp the ground all up. this soil is very soft a sort of clay and sand. We have certainly been favored about weather the most of our Regt is in quarters and are very comfortable. the Band 18 Company officers & myself are still sleeping in tents. I expect to be inside in a few days as they took the prisoners out of our building to day. we cleaned out and moved in the Commissary goods and Q.M. stores. 

 

Scaddan, a chap that is in the guard house most of his time says there is boddy lice in there with shells on their backs. I have seen pants boiled, and the lice carcasses would averag along the seams 5 to the inch. I recollect the first one I found on my cloths. I jerked it off so sudden it made its head swim. I caught it while I sleeping a few nights with a wagoner, while the Capt was gone to Accommac. I left him sudden. I have known it make some of the nice ones about sick when they would first find one on them, but if a man has them on him he is certainly not to blame for catching them. but as these things do better to talk about in camp than in a parlor, I will drop them. you speak of the tardiness of our Genls remember Bull Runn. You need not be afraid of a rebellion among the troops. if there is any trouble on that score it will be among the Shoulder Strap, ambitious Officers—who do not care for the country. if they can carry their end and live on some fat office, or aquire some millitary glory, they are willing to sacrefice men & money to serve their own ends. Officers of 1862 are not the officers 1776. Tis heart sickening but twill not do to dwell. Old Greely & Lovejoy ought to board at Fort Warren, or Layfayette.

 

            We are expecting our pay every day. We should have had it several day ago. I wrote the treaser of Black Hawk Co. about my taxes, they are $8.88 his bill is .12 cts. I shall send him the money as soon as I get it and have him send the receipt to you. Please take care of it

 

            As to Dr Galespie you & him are too ultra to talk togather on any thing connected with politics. if this war lasts long slavery will be nearly blotted out, but I hope not, but that is the most effective blow the South can receive. the South must be whiped and if slavery suffers let it suffer—it cannot be shielded without shielding the South, and I am not willing to do that 

 

The Song of all Songs: (air) The captain with his whiskers

As you walk through the town on a fine summer day

The subject I've got, you've seen I dare say

Upon fences and railings, wherever you go

You'll see the penny ballads, sticking up in a row

The titles to read you may stand for a while,

And some are so odd they will cause you to smile

I noted them down as I read along

And I've put them togather to make up my song

 

There was "Abrahams Daughter"—"Going out on a Spree"

With "Old Uncle Snow" "In the cottage by the Sea"

"If your foot is pretty Show it" "At Ganagans ball"

"And why did She leave him" "On the raging canawl"

There was "Bonnie Annie" with "A jockey hat & feather"

"I don't think much of You" "We were boys and girls togather"

"Do they think of me at home" "I'll be free and easy still"

"Give us back our old commander" "The Sword of Bunker Hill"

 

"When this cruel war is over" "No Irish need apply"

"For every thing is lovely and the goose hangs high"

"The young gal from New Jersey" "Oh will thou be my bride"

And "Oft in the Stilly night", "We'll all take a ride" /

"Let me kiss him for his mother" "He's a gay young gambolier"

"I'm going to fight mit Seigel" and "De bully Lager Beer"

"Hunky boy is Yankee Doodle" "When the cannons loudly roar"

"We are coming father Abraham Six hundred thousand more"

"In the days when I was hard up" with "My Mary Ann"

"My Johny was a Shoemaker" "Or any other man"

"The Captain with his whiskers" and "Annie of the Vale"

"Along with Old Bob Ridley" "A riding on a rail"

"Rock me to Sleep Mother" "Going round the horn"

"I'm not myself at all" "I'm a Bachelor forlorn"

"Mother is the Battle over" "What are the men about"

"How are you Horace Greely" "Does your Mother know you're out"

 

"We won't go home till Morning" "With the bold privateer"

"Annie Lisle & Zouave Johny" "Riding in a Rail Road Keer"

"We are coming Sister Mary" with "The folks that put on Airs"

"We are marching along" with "The four and thirty Stars"

"On the Other Side of Jordan" "Don't fly your kite so high"

"Jenny's coming o'er the green" to "Root Hog or die"

"Our Union's Starry banner" "The flag of Washington

Shall float victorious oer the land from Maine to Oregon

 

            Each of those sentences marked "—" are headings and titles of popular songs of the present time, composed by a clown called Song Pastor. he was in North's Amphitheatre at Chicago when I was there. RHCrist /

 

Parody on When this cruel War is Over

 

Dearest Sal do you remember When I marched away

With my Musket on my Shoulder Looking nice and gay

Now those Shining regimentals All in rags appear

Darns and patches all about them, Awful times out here

            Chorus.            Weeping Sad and lonely, Lord how bad I feel

                                    When this cruel war is over, Praying for one good meal.

 

I used to Sport a Diamond breast pin, Patent leather Boots

Take my bitters at the Astor, Coffee at Meschutts

Now the case is slightly altered. Here weve got to work

On biscuit hard as any brick bats And gutta percha Pork

                                    Weeping Sad and hungry, Busted all to Smash

                                    When this cruel war is over Praying for a plate of hash

 

Oh of course you do remember How I used to Spree

A regular gay old fashioned bender Was only fun to me

Here in company with whiskey Nary time Ive been

Pay a quarter to the Sutler And only get camphene

                                    Weeping Sad & thirsty, Why was I ever born

                                    When this cruel war is over, Praying for a good Stiff horn /

 

How I miss my plate of fish balls And my Oyster Stew

Hoping that I'll Soon have plenty Of beef & Mutton too

When we know no more of parting (Married you & I)

Then will everything be lovely And the goose hang high

                                    Weeping Sad and lonely

                                    I See thee in my dreams

                                    When this cruel war is over

                                    Praying for my Pork & Beans

 

[sideways]

 

Master Lee Crist you

may sing this "Cruel War" while Parna

sings the original as that was gotten

up by some Nut Meg—it is universally

despised in the Army

SOURCES