Camp near Falmouth

Feby. 9^th 1863

 

My Dear Brother

                                    I have just received your letter dated Feby. 4^th & was glad to hear that you were all well at home but I feel sorry when I hear about the times being hard in Phila for I often ask myself the question how can a soldiers family live on 13 dollars a month when it takes nearly a dollar a day for me to live & I get food at the government cost price at the Brigade commissary. we had a high old time here last night Genl. Burns received the sword our Regiment got up for him it just got here in time for he leaves the army of the Potomac to take a command under Rosecrans in the west on Monday. Young Hinchman left here yesterday for Phila he having received his discharge he took 2 pictures Fredericksburg a little smoking cap my Sergeants sash which I have carried through the whole campaign with me & the bullet which killed Lieut Peabody the sash I give to Harry it must be kept for him until he grows up the grape shot I want kept for my self & the picture of the angels whisper given to Geo. B. Garrett to tack up in the shop it is from fredericksburg & tell / George that it is to go to the first gal who gets married in the shop the cap is for you it is a nice little keepsake of the other side of Jordan

 

Major Roberts & I were laughing over your letter in regards to Hesser helping me along with a leave of absence he has no more power in getting me a leave of absence than you have to give me one. Baxter is in command of the Regiment now for the Right Grand Division has been broken up & the 9^th army corps have embarked on transports for some unknown place but it is generally credited that they are bound for North Carolina via fortress Monroe & I guess our Corps will follow suit. Couch is now in command of the Corps Howard the Division & Owens the Brigade & Baxter the Regiment. I have tried every honorable means to get a leave of absence but I stand no show with Baxter as long as such candidates as Harry Russell & the Healing Brothers & Co wants one. Major Roberts did try his best to get my application through but it was no use, now the only alternative left to me is to take a french & that I am going to do if I am dismissed in 5 minutes after I start. I hope Elizas child will never be a soldier it would be 10 times better for it to be in its grave than to follow in the footsteps of the one its named after at any rate tell her I glad to hear she is recovering & I am obliged / to her for naming the boy after me. I guess Mother will go half crazy over it because it is named after me. that sword & sash & belt has not got in sight yet & I guess never will as long as the adams Express Company has any thing to with it after this dont never send me any thing by adams Express for God dam their lying hearts I would not trust one of them with a 200 pound red hot shot the best thing you can do about that sword if you dont want to lose it is just to get that M^r Lovejoy to fork over the sword to you again & if I dont never see you I dont want the sword at the same time you may as well have the sword as the Adams Express Company God dam them they robbed about 60 boxes which came to our Regt the other day some of the boxes had not a dam thing in but the boys have all got it in for the adams Express Co

                                               

I must now close give my love to all the family

I Remain Your Affectionate

Brother

Robert Stewart

 

if you ever get sight on that sword again give it to somebody who is returning to the Regt from a furlough or sick leave

Ans. Soon /

 

Jim find out how much a pair of pants vest & coat costs Jim I dont intend to get a dress coat until I see how things are going to go but I want an officers fatigue coat it is made similar to the Army blouse or old fashioned sack coat you can see plenty of them on officers running around town

 

Jim yours dated 3^rd with M^r Peabodys letter enclosed has just now come to hand but I cannot answer it until I see the sword

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