Fortress Monroe, Virginia.

Monday, Oct 19. 1863.

 

My Dear Friend Anderson,

                                    Your nice long letter of the 4^th inst. reached me in due time, also the magazines. The bonds were all right, and I have to thank you for your kindness in doing so many favors for me, and hope I may be able to sometime return them. Perhaps when you penned the lines expressing your willingness to again accommodate me, you did not think I would so soon accept the offer, but lo, the long string of wants I now have.

Enclosed in this you will find an order for a dividend on the Prescott Bank, which will add eight dollars to the balance in your hands. Now will you take the bill I owe Williams, which I also send, and pay it, and you may say to him, if you think of it, that his watch mending is poor, as I have had three of his mainsprings break since June 1^st costing me about $9.00 and now this last one has "bust". You may liquidate it, with silent contempt if you prefer. I also wish for some photographs as I owe a few, & here are two copies, and I would like to have you get five of one and three of the other—as is designated on the back—at Warrens. I am very desirous to have / them finished well, and would like to have you reject them if they are not to your taste. I would send to him by mail and not bother you with them, if I had not already tried that way and received some so poorly finished—specks and spots on them—that I was ashamed to send them away. I am a poor looking case any way, and I always consider it trifling with me, to take away anything from the original. I also would like a good copy of the lithograph of the "Encampment of the Sixth Regiment at Suffolk". I do not think I shall come North at present, and I am afraid I can't get one when I do, so I snap at them now. This you may keep for me if you will. I never saw it, and do not know what it looks like. If it will be any ornament to your rooms, you may get it framed at my expense, or keep it rolled up in your drawers. Only if you get a frame, have a good one, one that would suit you, would please me. Lastly, when I came away Jenny Thurlow said she would send me her photograph this fall, and I told her I would ask you to call in and get it for me, which I now do. I believe this is all. As John A. Oldham seems oblivious to all sense of duty, you may withdraw your pursuit from him, paying yourself from the funds in your hands, for your letter of invitation &c. Looking for him is as profitless as our wanderings in search of John Morgan, but then you will remember, / we found other things, if we did not find him. When I landed on the wharf here at the Point last July there was a big steamer lying alongside named the "Thomas Morgan", and I at once thought of our raid through Boston looking for John. He has since been found out West I believe. He is an [?] rebel I hear, and I know at that time we did not search among "loyal men" to find him.

 

            I send you the photograph of "Lottie Hunneman" which you will please return, as it is not mine. Ain't she fine looking? If I ever get near you again, I will give you the whole of her correspondence to examine. I've got a nice little Testament and Psalms, given her by the Hon. A. P. Peabody of Roxbury, and which was with the rest of the plunder. This has nothing to do with the case in Suffolk. Entre nous, this young woman lives at No 9 Elm St. Roxbury. Has no father, but has a young brother Charles, who a year ago was clerk for J C Howe & Co. Franklin St. Boston. I've a picture of Capt. Williams her lover, which I tried to find to send with it, but it does not readily appear. I was mightily taken with this girl and her letters, and I think you will agree with me, that she looks inviting. I think she is about your style.

 

            I was very glad that you gave me the account of / Alice's engagement, I knew nothing of it previously. She has since written me, telling me all about it. His (Reads) credentials have been faithfully examined I assure you; to my view, more as if he was wishing to buy a few thousand dolls. worth of finery, than asking for a damsel in marriage. I don't know whether a committee have waited on him yet, to find whether his virile powers are in order or not, but presume "the length of his stroke" will be duly recorded before the knot is tied. I am very glad that the young lady is to do so well, but what is to be done with Madame in the mean time? As you know, Alice and I have corresponded for a long time, and I have found her a very good letter writer considering the extent of her education, and between you, both, but little has transpired at the "Hotel de Giles", but what I've heard of from one or the other of you. And among other things, that "diverse and sundry persons" had taken it into their heads that it was a serious breach of decorum, that she and I should exchange pen and ink compliments so freely. Durell & Co. I believe lead the van. John K Chase's wife made some seven remarks upon it, that have travelled out here to me. Her note was, that I offend myself to her, and tried to persuade her to elope with me. Tall wasn't it? Of course I needn't say that it was no / such thing. Now this little business of Read will draw their fire again. But what is your own opinion of Read, is he a good fellow? How does Bowles get along with Josie now-a-days? Do they have as many night sessions as ever? How is Mrs. Holbrook and that darling boy? Are they alike, equally lovely? Of Mr. and Mrs. Tucker you scarcely say a word? Don't you feed there any more? Bruce did not make his appearance here, on his return. I was over in the camp of the 13^th New Hampshire, two weeks ago today paying off some contrabands, and learned that he was at home.

 

            Since I last wrote you, I've had a stiff letter from John Varnum. He got me a place in the office of the Commissary General of Prisoners at a salary of from $1000. to $1200. per annum and sent me word by mail, to come up and take it. I was very much tried in my disposition to refuse it, but I am acting as chief clerk in this office, and have been for nearly four weeks, the chief—as was—being at home, in Rochester New York sick with a fever. We have more business than ever here to attend to, and I have to be on my taps to get through with it, as do all of us here; the position was only open for a week—full as long as I could expect certainly—and as it would not do to leave the Captain in the strait he was in, after he had treated me so well / I had to send him word I could not accept the place. John did not like it very much, but I never expected anything of the kind or I would have made my arrangements accordingly. I'd like very much to spend this winter in Washington especially at a good salary, but I am doing well here, much better than ever before. I'm going in for $75. per month, this month and think I shall get it, if I don't there will be a row. The Captain lets me manage the business entirely, and have things just as I want them. If we could only have a good office, and a decent place to live in, I would not change for any thousand dollar job that I know of. It is barely possible that I may get a chance to go to Boston on business within a month, especially if the Chief clerk comes back. If I do, I shall come and see you certain, and will take a short walk.

 

            Yesterday I went over to Norfolk, it was dull here and Sundays we are not very busy, so I wished for a ride. As Quartermaster's clerk, I can get transportation free, whenever government vessels go, so I'm nothing out you see. I went over at one, intending to come back at three. I had only an hour to stay there, so I imagined I could make the best use of it, by a survey of the damsels on exhibition there. I staid among / them too long, and the boat left me. I had come from the office without saying anything to any one where I was going, and as that was the last boat till 7 o'clock this morning, I was in a pretty pickle, but as good luck would have it, I found a dispatch boat going up, and got a chance in her, so came up by moonlight. I wish you was out here to take some of these trips with me, and to see some of the sights about here. I know you would enjoy it. I've seen all sorts and kinds of gunboats I believe from the common ferry boat to the ironclad "Sangamore". One came in here the other day—the "Dakota"—the largest and finest that I remember. She was 350 ft. long. She lay alongside the wharf nearly two hours. Her officers felt their oats, I assure you. It was the only time I ever saw them giving their orders with speaking trumpets. Several of the blockade runners, Clyde built ships or rather steamers, have been here. They are quite curiosities in their line. Two English vessels are off here in the roads—the "Jason" and the steamer "Lily"—the latter quite a mild name for a vessel bristling with cannon. The Johnny Bulls are great walkers, and you meet them "footing it" six miles out from here. They are generally finer looking men than our naval officers. Whiskey does / not show on them so plain. Their uniform does not differ much from ours save the cap, which in the summer is white, with a black band around it, in winter all black, and at all times of a shape like a saucepan.

 

Tuesday Morning Oct 20/63

            I have concluded to enclose to you two hundred and five dollars, which you may invest for me in 5-20 Bonds You may get them as is most convenient for you, only get them at as low a premium as possible, if you are obliged to pay a premium at all. Charge me with the postage on these documents, for I do not wish you to be at any expense on account of these items. Incidentally allow me to say, that I am not desirous of having it generally known how well I am doing, as it will speedily travel over to Centralville, and one Mr. Kittredge will be very likely to trouble me, as I fear that he thinks I owe him more than he's likely to get from me willingly. I am in a hurry this morning. Hoping to hear from you very soon, I am always

                                                           

truly Yours,

Selwyn E. Bickford

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