Newport News Va. May 13^th 1862

           

Dear Father

                        Your letter  by the hands of Lt. Horton, also one from Henry both dated the 10^th Inst. were received yesterday, and afforded me much pleasure. I must before writing further give vent to my feelings of disgust and mortification occasioned by our still being here, and doing duty as Home Guard. I had as well be in your city as far as the opportunity of distinguishing myself and smelling the Rebels gun powder goes, as to be here. I have suppressed my impatience for a long time, and mistrust my ability to do so much longer. I wrote you a few days ago saying that we were on the point of marching on Norfolk. We marched down to Camp Hamilton (Fortress Monroe) at nine o'clock Saturday night, getting in at 12 M. and expecting to embark for Norfolk at once. Three miles from Camp Hamilton I rode ahead very fast to report to Gen'l Wool that our Reg'm't was coming up, and to receive orders. He had gone with the advance to Norfolk but Gen'l Mansfield told me to have my Reg'm't bivouac at Camp Hamilton and await orders. This was a sad blow, for the 20^th Indiana that came down with us, was ordered by him at the same time to take transports then waiting and proceed to Norfolk. I could only ride back and meeting the Reg'm't comin in, conduct it to some unoccupied lofts of a Cavalry 111^th Penn. Reg'm't stationed at the Camp. About half an hour after taking possession of quarters which could only accommodate part of the men, I heard loud talking &c near [?] my mair & Captain of Co E. (Yeamans) quarreling with the Col [torn] who desired to call [torn] / and drive us away. I stopped this muss, and then proceeded to a Sutler near to quiet another row, and arrest the shower of chairs &c that were flying around in rather a dangerous manner. I then went back to where my horses were put in the Cavalry stalls, and getting my overcoat, the Major, and one of the Captains threw themselves with me upon the ground at the feet of the horses, to go to sleep. It was a pleasant night, but after a while we concluded the perfume of ammonia was too strong to admit of much sleep, so we went further in the field and spread ourselves. We brought no blankets, as our orders read in light marching order. With only the flap of my Cavalry overcoat for a pillow, and no covering but the sky, I slept well. The next day Col. Dyckman reported to Wool, who ordered us to "make ourselves comfortable where we were", with no blankets or knapsacks and poor shelter, with poorer liquor all around, I soon saw that we must return to Newport News, or become a dirty set of disorganized vagabonds. I went to Wool, and after talking got orders to return to Camp Rising back to camp at 7 P.M. I could not find Dyckman anywhere, to give him the orders to form line. I got provoked finally when some one told me Dyckman was enjoying his Lager in a neighboring sutlers shop and immediately assumed command, had the Sergeants call, and then the Assembly beaten, and formed line. Just as I was marching off without the Colonel, he came up with a red face and wanted to know where I was going. To Newport News said I! And as he commenced to give vent [torn] I at once told him, [torn] and take command / I would leave him there to follow when he pleased. This cooled him, and he started on the return trip. So ended our "March to Norfolk" The King of France &c &c

 

I now understand the Post is to be vacated within a week, and then we must go somewhere. I presume to Norfolk or to Richmond, but in either case probably after others have preceded us, and reaped the laurels. Everyone, high & low is disgusted with the old Dotard called Wool (but I think is all cry & no wool) and want him removed. For two weeks, we have every day received about fifty different orders, and all contradictory—first to move, and then to stay—now to have rations cooked, and then to eat them up—to-day to do so & so, to-morrow to undo it again. From Mansfield here down, a person hardly knows whether he stands on his head or feet.

 

As for me I have become a Stoic, and as the orders come, hand them to the Adjutant and tell him to lay them on the shelf, until the next one arrives that is to contradict it. I am in first rate health and only for this restless spirit feeling of conscious neglect, would be in spirits. I have taken the proper course since my arrival, with the Officers, and a very satisfactory and brother like feeling exists inter se, and all think highly of their Lt. Col. id est except Coles & Hamilton—the first has charges against him, and the second is universally detested, and benefits me by his dissatisfaction. The men too, respect me far in excess of their Colonel, and manifest it in many ways—in none so strikingly as in more care & pains to drill well, when immediately under my Command. I really feel it would be well for the first [torn] the Colonel, and [torn] what led to assume [torn] / but don't imagine me too ambitious or actuated by unworthy motives, as affecting my superiors. Not at all. Never have I expressed the idea in any way, but in this case to you, and of course it goes no farther, only to Father. Our Rawasso boys like the life. Count Gorgeous is in Co. K, and to day told the Orderly Sergeant of that command that "he was a liar" The said Orderly upon this compliment ejected forcibly some saliva in the face of our friend the Count, who immediately pitched in, and a second round between the two aspirants for fistic fame was prevented by the interference of the police, or guard of the camp. He makes a good soldier, but you would not be able to recognize our potent leather friend, who first enlisted, in them now—he is rough & dirty, and just what any private is. The Monitor, Naugatuck &c have gone up to Richmond, I presume. Eight hundred prisoners of ours, came down yesterday from there in three steamboats, and among them I found Peter Hargous son of Hargous, of Hargous Bros. an old friend of mine, who was taken from the Congress. The poor fellow looked very pale. When at Camp Hamilton, Sunday I spent several hours in the Hospitals there. They are filled with the wounded from the Army of M^cClellan, and some harrowing scenes were momentarily occurring. As I walked from cot to cot, on which lay extended the poor brave soldiers, I thought on the realities of War. In one hour I saw twenty patients brought in and thus it goes on all day. A secessionist who had been struck in the leg with a shell, was brought in, and his leg amputated. A few minutes after the operation as he lay in his cot, pale & emaciated, he turned around to the wounded man next to him whose leg was shattered, and who was a union man [torn] And said "I would [torn] another shot [torn] /

 

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damned Yankee." upon this I saw the face of his wounded neighbor still paler turn with anger, and he replied "Damn you, if I could only get at you I would choke you to death in a minute" And making an effort to turn he fell back. Is this not pluck? A Frenchman was brought in, whose head was battered in by the blow of a musket. I saw his brains beat and ooze through the fearful fracture. One man had received a bullet directly in the centre of his chest, and as he breathed the air whistled through the wound. I turned to him sorrowfully every few minutes to find him dead, and yet he lived on. [torn] handsome youth, a corporal of a company in the 37^th N.Y. had [torn] a bullet in his arm, near the shoulder, making an amputation necessary, and as he lay with his shattered member a really happy face he had, and he said, he didn't care, if he could but get out to try his luck again. But I tire you, and you can well imagine how many such scenes there were, some 1500 in all each a story in itself speaking of loved ones at home and all that's dear so far away. Most of our men were hit in the legs, and a secesh wounded man, told me that orders 

 

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had been given by their Generals to fire low. Our rifle ball makes a terrible wound, and the Rebles fear it very much. Like the mosquitoe its whiz & hum is very disagreeable. I enclose in this the key of my trunk, which went by Adams Express to day. Also a piece of the Merrimac, and a Secesh button with a photograph or two. Please have Lib, if she will, open my trunk and put the things away in my room. I drew a draft for $200. which please honor. I bought a horse, saddle &c. Also honor an agreement or draft of mine, fav. Reeves Musician of my Reg'm't, paying him some interest on the face of the draft, as is specified thereon, charging to me the interest or yourself as you see fit, but you had the use of the money. I received dear Harry Hidden's ring, and would not part with it for any thing—it will be & is now invaluable.

 

Give my Love to all—Good Bye

                                                           

Your aff. son

Fred.

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