Providence June 7, 1864

 

Dear Capt.

                        Your kind and welcome letter of 23^d May written on board Steam Transport Clinton came to hand hesterday with enclosre of Allotment Comm^s Rec^d for $350. and to day Miss Lina made me a call for the purpose of enquiring if I had heard from you as well as herself. I am sorry to learn that you had not up to the time of writing had any acknowledgement from me of having rec^d the former remittance of $200. as well as that some of your family letters had not come to hand. Upon enquiring at Head Quarters today for the proper address of your Reg^t I find that I have not put the direction upon my two letters which has now been given me and if your family have directed theirs as I have done perhaps this may account for their not coming to hand yet. I suppose that it is well known / that the 14^th R. I. is the 8^th U.S. Col^d Vol^s now, in your Dep^t. I hope you may not be troubled any more in this way but that all your letters will reach you safely & regularly.

 

I do not understand why it is you have to pay so much for yours & Ernests board for I thought the Gov^t provided for all this or that you had a certain allowance for rations made which enabled the officers to live well without using much if any of their pay. It is too bad that you feel obliged to deny yourself and I wish it was in my power to do something so that you might have all the comforts that can be given you for a soldiers life is a hard one at the best. Perhaps there is something I can do to take off a little of the rough edge and if so do let me know and I will do my best for you. My interest in you & yours remains the same & has not been diminished by your absence but on the contrary, the more I know of yours / and their combined efforts to make every thing go as far as it can I feel as if I would like to be blessed with this worlds goods more than I am that I might do more for others as in my heart I doubt not I am disposed to do. I wish sometimes that you would resign if you can do so honorably and be once more with your family for I have always told you that you are not one of those who are called upon to make such sacrifices for the cause in which you are now engaged. You have already made all the sacrifice that can be requited at your hands and I only wish I had influence at the Dep^t at Washington, I would make your case known and have you relieved from duty with full pay till the end of the war or make you a Brigadier & put you on the retired roll with half pay. Your daughter mentioned that you spoke of Col Metcalf, the late Col of the 3^d R.I.—poor fellow I met him a week since on Market Square towards eve^g so drunk that he was reeling and did not seem to know any body or any one care for him. To me it was a sad sight knowing him so long & so well as I have. Since the death of his wife he has given himself up to liquor again & it is doubtful in my mind if he will ever break off again.

 

Tomorrow the men of the 2^d Reg^t excepting those who have re-enlisted are expected to arrive here and there are great preparations being made to receive them. Battery A I think is also to be here at same time, the terms of enlistment of both having expired. I will send you a paper of today cont^g the organisation of the City Gov^t for the ensuing year. I think Doyle will make an excellent Mayor & make himself acceptable to the people. I also send you a map which will enable you to find out what Grant is doing with the Army of the Potomac. Write me as often as you have time and inclination so to do. I shall be glad always to hear from you and to do any thing for you I can. Freely call upon me when I can be of any service and believe me as ever

                                                                                               

Your Sincere friend

S.C.B.

 

Excuse my haste and for writing on these separate pieces of paper for I was in too much of a hurry to get up & open my desk.

SOURCES