10/12/62

Washington Arsenal Grounds

           

My dear Ady

                                    Another Sabbath finds me at my customary duty of letting you know the events of the past week, and although there is but little change in our present mode of life, yet something always occurs to write about. But first about money affairs. You know my dear I expected to get some $450 from the City Bounty Committee for recruiting expenses. Well I made my application for the funds—Our Regimental Committee had the matter in charge. They succeeded in drawing $275 only, being $5 per man for 55 men I had mustered in. For the transferred men I could not receive one cent. The Committee had advanced $100 to each Captain, before the Regiment left the city. This amount they retained, leaving me only $175. As Lieut Saylor had been at one half of the expense of raising the Company I had to divide this with him, which reduced my funds to $87½—With this amount I paid all outstanding little affairs, and purchased myself a hat, (felt)—beside paying $12½ for my dress coat and having it altered. I sent $60 home and have retained but a very small amount for immediate expenses such as washing &c. &c. These are the reasons I could not send more. The Regimental Committee owe me yet $50 for / various expenses forced upon me, but as the Regimental purse has collapsed, I do not expect to get it. I sent you the $30, for two or three weeks expenses and boarding, as we will be mustered for payment, the latter part of this month, and I can then send you more funds, and also send Cap. Loudy the $50 and pay English some on account. I will write to that effect this evening. Do not unnecessarily worry my dear over what cannot be helped. I am doing and will continue to do my best, while here. My expenses are very small, in fact almost nothing, and you may rest assured, will not be increased. The money to pay life insurance I consider a duty to forward, as it is intended to secure Mrs. Mears and others, whom I am in honor bound to. So, my dear, spend the $30 as you consider best, and the first week in November you will have your next remittance. How about your bracelet? have you heard from your Uncle Theo lately?

 

                                    We are still here at the Arsenal, and are likely to remain here, as Colonel Ramsay told me yesterday to remain perfectly easy. When the Department have no further need for our services, we will be ordered away. Col. Ellmaker is moving heaven and earth to get us back, but so far without success and I secretly hope and trust he will continue unsuccessful. /

 

The truth is Addy (keep this to yourself) the Officers play and drink too much. The men are kept working on the fortifications, and the Officers have nothing to do, not even drill the men; and I fear there will be trouble yet in the Regiment. It was only the other day, a row occurred between one of the Captains and Lieut Col. Clark. The Captain's wife was in camp on a visit and she charged Lieut. Col. with insulting her. There came near being a funeral, as shooting was spoken of. The Colonel is just as bad. I do not wish to be under such Officers, any further than my duties require—and I do not much care of we are never associated again. Col. Ramsay is a gentleman in every respect. He has his peculiarities, as every old Regular has, and one of them is dislike of volunteers, but we seem to satisfy him, and he is as kind to us all as can be. Our connection with him now may be of future use. This page keep entirely to yourself (as I requested above) my dear, as I would not like to have it known I complain of my Officers—but to you I consider I am justified in doing it. The health of my men, I regret to say is not improving. The Island by which the situation of the Arsenal and grounds is known is very low. It is on a point and is swampy and malarious. Fever and ague abounds, and from the Colonel's family down, all / get it. I have one case only as yet, but I fear I shall have many more. We are now enjoying a North East storm. Night before last, it rained tremendously, and we became wet as rats, all of us. But we experienced no bad results. Before the rain, we were constantly enveloped in a cloud of dust. Our camp is immediately on the roadside, and every passing wagon (and there are some hundreds passing daily) sent us a share. We could keep nothing clean, all dirt, dirt, but now, we can congratulate ourselves on a clean street, and clean skins. It is a luxury, you can scarcely imagine. I regret extremely that our little ones are not well. I trust they will recover soon. I dream of you every night and think often during the day—if you all could only be here with me, but wishing & thinking will not bring you. I admire your taste in the shirting line. I think they are good selections, and may after a while exercise your judgment on some for myself. But I must close, as I have some more to write to, and as the Company wish me to march them to church tonight, I must finish my correspondence this afternoon. Kiss Roly & Addy for me frequently dear, do not let them forget me, and remember my dear that I am striving to do my best for them and yourself. God grant that I am in the proper course. Hoping to have a letter from you tomorrow

believe me to remain as ever

 

Oct 12/62                   

 

Your affectionate husband

Andy

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