No 1

 

Camp Randall

Madison Wis

Sept. 30. 1862.

 

Dear Sister,

Your letter dated the 19th is just at hand and with it one from Father. I do not believe I owe you any more than this letter, but to make it right hereafter I commence numbering mine as you see [pointing hand] and you do likewise calling yours of the 19^th No 1 and your next No 2 and we will see who gets and keeps the highest numbers. I am made glad again to hear you are all well excepting a slight (as you say) indisposition of Mother's. I did have so much running to attend to I did not write very often just before I came here but since here I have sent letters quite often.

 

I have come to the conclusion that I do not want from Father only one of his pistols, that for a / a watch I will use my own, for a revolver if I do not draw one, depend upon the contraband property which comes into our hands legally. But I want a pistol I can depend upon, one that for one charge gives me an advantage over any other pistol and I can find that only in one of Father's make. So I want from home a pistol of his make and I do not know as I will trouble you for anything else.

 

I would not give one snap for all the swords in the world and I would not carry one here I not obliged to. They are a perfect nuisance to me. Answer this immediately that I may know as soon as possible whether to expect anything from home nor not. It will be necessary for Father to send the pistol as soon as he possibly can after getting this or it will not get here until I am away and considerable extra express will be the consequence. I hope I shall receive soon a good picture of Mother. To day I am head man in the QM department. Mr Baird the Q.M. went to Chicago last night and expects to return to-night. All the business is in my hands when he is away not only of the QM department but also the Commissary which now is with the QM or under his charge.

 

I had rather have my place as Q.S. than the first place in a Company for it is a business I like better than a Captain's or Lieut's place. And I choose this place also because I thought it would suit the folks at home better. Aside from sickness my place is quite a safe one.

 

If we go South I presume through Chas Lyman I shall get a berth of Q.M. for we shall doubtless if we go South before we get through come across him and draw from his post. I have been almost perfectly well since here while very many and among them both the QM and our Clerk have been a little sick. I sleep in the office which is three rooms in a large building and the other parts of the building are occupied by troops for Old Regts which are going and coming every day. Our Regt will be clothed I think this week complete though we have not yet rec'd and given out shoes and socks a few drawers. We may go to fight the Indians in Minnesota under Pope but I think not.

 

As to being in the Eastern Army and in the West there are objections, as I am situated on both sides. 1st it is not convenient. 2nd I do not want to be under Generals who are influenced so much by jealousy they cannot do anything. The Eastern Army have not won a real victory yet. I never want you to worry at all about me. You have not much reason to worry. I fare as well and can anytime as anyone in the Regt. All the provisions and clothing & stores &c are under my eye.

 

The Non-Commissioned Staff are:

Sergeant Major 1st

Q.M. " 2nd

Commissary Sergeant 3th

Hospital Steward 4th and I with one other of the Staff have a tent—a good wall tent and if anyone has a much better chance to keep comfortable I would like to know who it is. I sleep now on a crick-bedstead with some six blankets under me and as many over me and rest better than on feathers. This letter of yours is the first I have had from home since here and it is very acceptable.

 

I am anxiously looking for the papers to know how affairs are with you & where Munroe, Lane Printice Jas Peck &c

 

My guitar, violin and other things are at Uncle Samuel's and will be / well cared for I think.  There are also in my trunk two silver teaspoons once Grandmothers for Father & you and Uncle Em's old Bible which he has given to me and a pair of stockings for Father and Uncle Em each knit by Grandmother. I have been so busy I have not been able to visit my acquaintances in town except stop in Mr. Muldoon's shop once or twice. One of their children is quite sick with canker rash. I expect I shall be able to give you many interesting letters when we get on the march.

 

I shall try to find time to write quite minutely of affairs. I shall not be able to visit Aztalan I think before I leave. I am getting pretty well used to the manner the Q.M. accounts are kept and think I shall know it all but experience by the time we leave the state. Our clerk is a fine fellow I guess. / He is a lawyer by profession and a distant relative of the famous [?] Burtcherd. His name is Geo B—.

 

If you see any of Mr. Wright's folks ask them for Eddie's address. I sent him a letter to Lock Box 165 Boston & I fear it will not reach him. Well I have scratched off quite a lot of trash. It is a rainy eve and I am alone this eve for a wonder with the exception of the clerk. Write immediately and at this place as follows, Camp Randall Madison Wis. John P. De Merit Q.S. Love to all—

 

Your dear brother

John

 

[margin]

This letter is to sister Martha JPD 4/23 1900

 

[verso]

Remarks

We had a few men [?] No 11 Army shoes, which the soldiers often called canal boats because of their box-shaped appearance, could not equip because too small & had to get foot-gear made to order for them & I had a shoemaker of Madison make me a pair of boots which he warranted to last a year & they did. In the army I bought of the Sergt Maj a pair of Cavalry boots which I have now & use sometimes in riding horse-back. I had by exercise prepared myself somewhat for camp life & so took it on very easily. Geo B Berchard the clerk mentioned has since the war been Adj Genl of the State of Wisconsin.

 

He left us at Helena Ark & became an officer in a colored regt named for the State of Ark I think in which he became Major. He proved to be quite an aspiring youth & not so genial a fellow as I had supposed. The men at Madison eagerly took on soldier life & on the whole our stay in Camp Randall was a pleasant one. Col Chs R Gill, almost from the start took to me & when at Madison I remember of taking a pile of papers to him to sign & he asked me if I thought he ought to sign them & I said yes & he signed almost without looking at them. He was a firm friend to me & I regretted exceedingly when he had to resign at Vicksburg & [?] before it fell because of sickness which seems never to have fully left him & he died soon after the war & in an insane asylum. He gave a character to the regt which it never lost & those who had its management later followed consciously or unconsciously in his method of management. Col Gill was an excitable man & apt to be impulsive which made him some enemies but on the whole I regard him as able an officer as any we had. He was in the war to fight & not to speculate and often clashed with his superiors on the point & at Helena was corrected by Genl Gorman because of his integrity. John P DeMeritt

Apr 23 1900

SOURCES