Camp of 32^d Mass. V.            

Near Falmouth V^a                           

Feb. 15^th 1863          

  

My dear Sir,

                        The sight of your familiar hand-writing made me home sick, particularly as Cobb had left us the Monday previous. I feel as though the last link was broken from one who treads alone some banquet^(?) hall etc.—

 

I have today forwarded to Hd. Qrs. of the Army a statement of the facts in regard to our Extra Duty Rolls and presume the question will now be settled whether the men can get their pay or not. I suspect that Howden wishes to force us into turning over the teams, by this and sundry other petty annoyances.

 

Things go on but indifferently well since you left us. A violent altercation between the Major and the Dr. in regard to a tent fly has settled into a state of chronic war, and charges and counter charges and counter-counter-charges succeed each other in rapid succession. I fear that before the storm they have / raised is over the lightning will strike one or both of them. The Dr. is now busily engaged in working up the fact of the Major's getting his leave extended by Maj. Luther Stephenson Jr. and the Maj. is equally busy on the Dr's conversion of Hospital Stores.

 

The line, determined, apparently, not to be behind in all this pomp and circumstance of glorious war, put their champions into the arena and Dana and Shepard quarrel and fight for the honor of the Line, and charge (on paper) and counter-charge for the honor of the Line! Truly we have the fighting material among us, Heaven send that they fight the enemy as well as they fight each other!

 

I know you will be pleased to learn that Dr. Owen has been removed for incompetency—to use his own elegant language "he has gone out of his sphere".

 

I am sorry to learn that your health is not so good as it was here and I pray you to return with all speed to the Army. Take a Brigade, appoint me Aide—I think I should like Aide-de-Camping-out a great deal better than Quarter Mastering—and your future of health and glory is secure. You know I have bought Dr. Bigelow's horse and you must also / be aware that the graces of my person set off and heightened (so to speak) by the splendid proportions of this quadruped are enough to make the fortune of any Brigadier General. "Go where glory waits you"—"a word to the wise" etc. by all means resign your intention of "leaving the world" expressed in such trees-on-able language.

 

It's of no use for me to try to express my sorrow and regret at your resignation which is not diminished by Mr. Cobb's departure, but I live in the hope that, should the present unhappy state of public affairs continue, you may again return to the military service when you will at least need an orderly.

                                   

Believe me, dear sir, yours truly,

Isaiah F. Hoyt

 

[endorsement]

 

Q. M^r Hoyt. Feb. 15. 1863

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