Camp of Sixth Massachusetts Volunteers

Suffolk, Virginia. February 18. 1863

 

My Dear friend Anderson

                                    Your letter of the 12^th was duly received and I was very glad to hear from you. I had not had a letter for more than a week, and it did my eyes good to see it, especially when it developed itself in such good proportions. The fact that your health seemed to be fully restored, was assured me, by your continued pursuit of the favors of the lady at the foot of the stairs, as it is altogether too ardent for a man in ill health. If God should see fit to take the Angel boy to himself it would be quite a relief to our end of the table. I heard from Holbrook quite often when I first came out here, but I used to call things by their right names, and always said rebels, when I meant rebels, and I presume I hurt their feelings, at any rate, they corked up, and I have not heard a word from them, since the middle of December. I do not care to receive the correspondence and so don't ever drop a hint that I've written on the subject. I write both Josie and Alice, but neither of us ever mention them, so I suppose the devil is to pay somewhere. I am very sorry that Alice is so sensitive in regard to the affair with Mrs. Tucker, and hope that you may be able to bring her to a sense of regard to her own interest if nothing more. Mrs. Tucker is and has been too good a friend to her, to be laid aside hastily, and I opine she will find it hard to replace her with anyone else. Since I wrote you, I've had the opportunity to read the "Atlantic" for February, and have also had a very good ruler given to me, so those wants are supplied and I will not trouble you to send them to me. You may instead send me four pounds of chocolate—common article, not the French—and if the box does not happen to come before the last of March, I will tell you of much more, which I shall wish for about that time. The three / Commissioned officers of this Company formerly messed together, but when the Captain's wife came here, it made our bills so high I could not afford to pay it, for what we had, and I hauled off and Lieutenant Pulcifer went with me, and now I keep the house. I've got a yellow boy to do the work, and I think we can get along very well. Lt. P. and I have a house of our own, and every thing separate, he is a first rate fellow, and as smart as you can think and he always keeps his end up, so we flourish greatly. If you would come out here and see me, I would put you through equal to "Youngs" in Boston, save that you would of necessity have to eat off tin instead of stone china. By the way, in conversation the other day, I found an officer here, who was acquainted at No. 5 and knows A.B. What do you think of that? In regard to my Staff appointment I will make a full revelation of that matter, when I see you. It is a long and interesting story. The Photograph I shall be very glad to receive, whenever you get them. The bundle containing the scarf that Alice made me, I sent directed to you, at your office, more than a month ago. It went from here by a young man by the name of Frank Mansfield of Groton. He was discharged from the service, and went north at the same time, and in company with, Corporal Charles Brager of the Richardson Battery. I told him that if it was not delivered in Lowell for a month or two, it would do, if he would take care of it. He said he would, but I afterwards understood that he proposed giving it to Brager to deliver. I would not lose it for a hundred times its value, and if you would ask Brager if he knows anything about it, I would take it as a kindness. It could not have been left at your office, when you were sick, and have got mislaid could it? If Brager don't know anything about it, I think Mansfield must have it safe in his possession, and will give it you as soon as he comes to Lowell. 

 

I am thinking very strongly of sending my Regulation Over Coat and one or two other articles home, that is, to you. I do not wear it but very little and it is very much in the way, so if you chance to receive it some day, you will know that it is all right. I will have it sent to the City Hotel so you will not have to lug it about any. You can hang it up in your baggage room only don't let the moths get into it. I expect you will have a large collection of traps belonging to me before I get home. I looked the names of the Committees at the approaching Festival, over very carefully, but did not find yours so I presume you wished to be counted out.

 

Your offer to do the "pecuniary" for me, I shall gladly avail myself of; since I wrote you, I received a letter from my brother in law, and he wanted some money; about what I had with me at the time, so I put the $220 into a letter, and sent it to him and he has received it. Rather a risky way to send so much money by mail, but I could not bother with the Express, and so let it rip—classic, this last. Sarah knew I sent it, and thinking that I intended to get the money for him by selling the Washington Mills stock, and then changing my mind, had sent him my pay instead, she held on to the certificate, and has written me about it. I sent to her to send it to you immediately, and you will get it, about the time this reaches you. When it reaches you, you may operate like this. If the stock is selling for from $165 to $155, and from what you know you feel certain that it will drop down to $125 to $140 before it goes up again, you may sell it, deposit the money on your own account in the bank, and when it begins to rise again, which I feel confident it will do soon, you may buy it back again, or if you do not feel safe to do that, keep the certificate and wait until it comes up to $200. Woolen Mills will run and make money for a year or two certain, and I would buy at $175 any time. When it begins to rise, you will need to buy quick or it will get above your mark before you think. I think you misunderstood me, in relation to the Naumkeag. I think the / Mills are in operation now, working up a lot of India Cotton that they were fortunate enough to get hold of. I do not see why they are compelled to borrow money. They have all their original capital, having divided the surplus only. I am not posted in regard to the corporation's affairs, that have transpired lately. Two years ago, when everything was running easy, and no particular demand was made for stocks of any kind, this sold for $125 and upwards, quick. I tried to get some at that time, but could not pay so much premium, since then I've watched it close, and think a small chance in it cannot be very bad. I've a share in the Hamilton, and two shares of Prescott that I'd sell, if I could get enough for them. What is the prospect? And what chance is there for the Hamilton paying dividends this year? In case you sell, and buy again, you may take the certificate in your own name, and when you sell, you may send Sarah your note payable to her, for whatever sum you think right, reserving to yourself margin enough to shield you from any losses; then if you or I close up our mortal career suddenly, the matter can be readily settled. Aside from this, we will keep these matters private. Does your partner and Mr. Kittredge have secret sessions now, or do you hear anything about my family affairs? I presume he will make a dash at me, when I get home. If I had been at Lowell the past four months, I could easily have made two thousand dollars, I feel confident of it. If the country don't go to the devil before the first of next January I will have a pile by that time, if I am blessed with good health. I see chances enough to make money about here. This is not a very interesting document, but I am not always entertaining in my conversation, you know. I hope I may hear from you soon. I received your last card, and have given it a prominent position in my quarters. I've got some back pay due, but I don't believe you can collect it. Please remember me to my friends. Very truly Yours,

                       

Selwyn E. Bickford

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