Camp near Stevensburg Va Feb 23 1864

 

Dear Father and Mother.

I received your 2^d letter last week on friday last, and concluded that I would wait until after the Ball and commence my letter to you. I am glad you wrote to me about Geo and Luther coming over to see me, for I shall be prepared for them, and you may rest assured that any inducement they may offer me will be refused, as I shall give them no chance to write to Old Litt about my getting drunk. I am very sorry that they should so degrade themselves, as to get intoxicated, especially at home. I am glad I was not at home. But I must tell you about the Ball, the part I played in it, and of the good time I had. 

 

Let me first say that the weather was splendid, a bright moon made the night light as day, and a warm south wind added greatly to the convenience of those outside, while it considerably increased the heat inside. The Hall (which I gave the length and breadth of in my previous letter) was handsomly decorated by the numorous Battle Flags of the Corps, and at each end of the building was a large American Flag from side to side. The 4 standards that supported the roof were wound round with red white and blue cambric looked like a barbers pole, and around each standard was a stack of muskets each musket having a set of equipments on them. On each side of the platform (where the band was) was a piece of Artillery 12 Pdr. and between these were two shelter tents pitched and a knapsack packed inside, and a haversack canteen hung down in front so as to give the Ladies an idea of how a Soldier lies at night. 

 

The Refreshment table would accomodate about 120 couple, was very elegantly decorated indeed, wine and ginger glasses at each plate. The bill of fare was mostly turkeys, ham, veal, deer, cold rolls and bread mostly from home Washington, and figs, nuts raisins oranges and a desert of ice cream, blanc mange, port and sherry wine, and champaigne. But one thing I liked there was not a pie or a loaf of cake on the table, where at such tables one usually sees so much of those articles. Well now for a description of the assemblage. The Generals (including the Honorary members whose names are on the Programme) were Kilpatrick, Sykes, Humphries, Gregg, Caldwell, Webb, Hayes and 2 or 3 that I did not know. Those I knew by sight I have seen before on the march. The Ladies were not so numerous as the Gents, but all the Gents managed to dance with some of them. There were some very handsome dresses amongst them one in particular I noticed, was a gauze / one. White and red and blue ribbons on the edges of the flounces and an Officers sash on her bodice across from her right shoulder to the left side and sustained there by a rosette of artificial flowers, and a wreath of natural flowers on her head. She was quite pretty. But the prettiest woman I saw in the Hall was Col Smiths wife, a little woman with dark hair in curls and a row of pearls around her head dressed in light blue with heavy flounces on it. The dancing was for the most part poor. A greater portion of the Officers didnt know the figures of a Cotillion; Gen Kilpatrick is a splendid dancer and he loves to dance I know by the looks of him. The band was an excellent one of the 1^st Div. the music to dance by was 4 fiddles a clarionet and a pick-a-low and they played a great many of Father's old tunes. I tell you it was a splendid sight to look upon "the fair women and brave men" moving through the figures of the different dances, and the Officers uniforms added greatly to the splendor of the scene. It looked so much better than the common citizens clothes which we see at home I saw but very little of that evil I expected too see that was intoxication. There was plenty of liquor but nothing stronger than sherry wine. But I saw Gen Webb take a Lieut by the arm and lead him to the door and politely wish him good night and then tell the sentry that he was not to be admitted again. He was talking pretty loud and had been drinking pretty hard and the Gen knew that it was best to dismiss him. 

 

Page 5^th Feb 24^th 1864.

Dear Parents.

                        Now I will tell you the part I had in the "Soiree". I was on guard on the door leading from the Hall to the Refreshment Room, and my duty was to open the door for all that wanted to go in; but not to let any one out, but to make them go into the Ball Room by the other door; no matter if it was a Major Gen, make him go. And I did too. So you see I was in good position to witness all the sights. After supper was finished and dancing resumed in the Ball Room, Capt Queen one of the managers relieved me and told me to go and get some supper, and I went and done justice to as good a supper as ever I eat. there was plenty of wine but I drank nothing that night except 3 or 4 glasses of champaigne. The Ball broke up at 3½ oclock, and one and all / agreed it was a perfect sucess, and went away completly satisfied. So ended the 2^d Corps Soiree, and I honestly think I have not had so good a time since I left the good old town of Litt.

 

They are putting seats in the building and Proffessor Murdock is going to lecture there, the proceeds to go for the benefits of the Hospital. A good idea I think. There is a theatre on a small scale at Stevensburg, so you can see that the Soldiers are enjoying themselves considerably this winter. Well let them as long as they dont infringe on their duty any. The 7^th Michigan have got settled down again and if you did not know it you would hardly think they had been at home on 35 days furlough. Te[?] my tent mate has a brother in the 26^th Mass Vols and the last time he wrote to him I wrote a note to Uncle Alph how as you think he will like to receive one from me. / I received a letter from Mr Whitcomb and one from Geo Knowlton. Tell Nellie I have a piece for her next paper and will send it along when I write to her next. You can send the description of the Ball to any of the editresses if you wish with my respects and best wishes for the success of the Lyceum. It might interest them some. But I shall stop until I receive your letter. So good bye for now. Geo H. Patch.                                                                                        

 

Feb 26^th 1864

Dear Parents. I received your letter dated the 21^st last night and was very glad indeed to hear that you still continue to prosper so well. I received those letters that you sent me by mail, and also the money too. I think I made mention of that picture in my last letter. We were paid Nov. and Dec. pay on the 22^d of Feb Washington birthday and squared up with 1863 between us and US. I had $5.00 stopped on me for extra clothing, and / I paid $6.00 for my stove so I shant have any to send home this time, but dont think I am getting dissappated far from it but things are pretty dear and 12 or 13 dollars dont go far. I shouldnt wonder if Ed had a lady at Lowell for he has got the picture a very pretty girl from Lowell. Your writing about Maria Taylor makes me think. I thought she was engaged to Geo Law long time ago. I shouldnt wonder if some stuck up folks in Old Litt would say how do you do and shake hands with a fellow what she wouldnt do when I was at home. I am always very glad indeed to get a letter from Mr Whitcomb and I know the advice that Mr he can give me cannot hurt me and it might do me a good deal of good. I should think by the programme you mean to spend a merry week in L. Well Id like to be there at the ball if not any other night. I received that letter from Geo. K. night before last. If you choose you can send me some picture papers for they would pass away some time pleasantly if nothing more. If things work right we are better off here than we were at Division Provost. I am Corporal and doing duty as such. I dont actually need the stripes but if you have a mind to send them I shall put them on.

But adieu,

G.H.P. 

 

Page 9^th Feb 26 1864.

Well dear Parents,

                                    I have a few words more to say before I send this. perhaps you dont mistrust the time I am writing this letter is. Well the duty here is such that a Sergt and Corp can do the duty, one sit up half of the night and one the other half, and tonight I am sitting up from 1 until morning and it is now about ½ past 3 oclock. you probably are all asleep at this time. But my letter will be very big by the time I get all this in. So I shall have soon to stop. Tell little sister I feel real proud that I have got a sister that goes to Sunday School and says a little verse and I will send her some money in this letter to let mother buy her what she has a mind to with. I want you to keep that Ball ticket and blue club for the Blue Club / I found in the Ball room. 14. C.V. means 14^th Connecticut Vols. and that ticket a lady dropped it, and I picked it up and handed it to her and she told me I might have it if I wished. So it is quite a relic to me. I am going to have my minature taken with a cap on and you may look for it some time next week. The weather is very pleasant but the wind blows every day and the dust flies like old nick. The moon shines very brightly. Side arms means without ammunition that is equipments without the cartridge thus [diagram]. with cartridge box [diagram]

 

But I must stop now. I hope I have got you an interestingletter and that it is long enough. And with my best wishes to all my friends and much love to all the family.

                       

I remain

Your Affect Son

Geo. H. Patch.

Major S. O. Bull

instead of S C Bull.

SOURCES