Robert F. Twombly to Benjamin F. Twombly and Rosamond W. Twombly, 6 February 1862
Headquarters Second Regt., Camp Instruction Co. G
Thursday Feb 6th 1862
                                   
Dear Father & Mother
             I seat myself to write you a few lines to let you know how things are a doing here. We have said we would not take Colts Rifle, time & again. Yesterday the Govennor of New Hampshire was here to see us, and made us a speach. he said if we would take Colts Gun and use them 3 or 4 weeks we should then have Sharps Rifle but we were detirmined not to / Take them at any rate. But this morning all of the Companies were marched up to the Cols tent (Col. Post is our Col not Berdan) and the Col. told us that if we did not take them we should be shot on the parade ground by a Regt of Regulars, from the city and so we had to take them Some of the Cos refused &  the Col. put the ordely Seargeant in the guard house and then told them if they did not take them he should be shot, and to save his life they went and took them it rained hard all the time and was very mudy
                       
Feb. 7
            Quite Pleasant
to day one of General McClellans aids came up. he was sent up by the Gen. to see what the trouble / was and if there was any one in the guard house to let them out. he was prety mad with the Col. (Col). he said Old Berdan went down to the city and told the war Department that we perfered Colts Gun to Sharps (which was all a lie) he said we should have Sharps in 3 or 4 weeks.
 
to night Cols. Post & Berdan were arrested and carried down to the city for saying they would should shoot us and lying to us as they have. the soldiers were all glad of it.
                       
Saterday the 8
            to day I am on guard we shall proberbly leave here in 2 or 3 weeks just as quick as the mud drys up a little so that the Grand Army can make an advance. we shall go / from here when the Army makes a moove.
 
I heard that we Sharp Shooters would go to North Carrolina I hope so we are packing our things to day to send home after so long a time But I must close for to day for I must go on Grand in a few moments
                       
Sunday the 9
very Pleasant Col. Post has got back. with we shall probably go to N.C. with Gen. McDowells Division I hope we shall for it will be warmer than it is here
 
There was a fight down to Elexandria yesterday our men were victorious as they always will be, when a fare chance is given them.
13924
DATABASE CONTENT
(13924)DL1927.010X.1Letters1862-02-06

Tags: Courts Martial, Executions, Fighting, George B. McClellan, Guard/Sentry Duty, Guns, Home, Leadership (Soldiers' Perceptions of), Marching, Nature, Victory, Weather

People - Records: 3

  • (5070) [writer] ~ Twombly, Robert Frank
  • (5072) [recipient] ~ Twombly, Benjamin F.
  • (5074) [recipient] ~ Twombly, Rosamond W. ~ Colby, Rosamond W.

Places - Records: 1

  • (75) [origination] ~ Washington, DC

Show in Map

SOURCES

Robert F. Twombly to Benjamin F. Twombly and Rosamond W. Twombly, 6 February 1862, DL1927.010, Nau Collection