Battery Stevenes

Point Calhoun on the

Nansimond      May 12^th 1863

 

            My Dear Wife

                                                I have received your 2 letters of the 3^rd & 7^th. Since writing before I have returned to the Reg. The detachment for the Battery were relieved by some of Hawkin’s Zouaves but they in turn have gone home & we were ordered back I was slightly unwell & did not go back with the rest & the next day I was ordered to report to Battery Stevenes with a detachment of 16 men Howard Miner is in the Battery with me. At this place we have a splendid fort they are at work on it now building a magazine & casemates/rendering it entirly Bomb proof quite a safe place for a young man to stay in. I think like enough we shall stay here all summer The Reg. has moved down here & I make my quarters with John as usual It is quite pleasant here since we enjoy the privileges of the river which we could not approach without being shot when the Rebs occupied the opposite Bank. You have doubtless head of the fight of a week ago last Sunday that took place here dont know as the papers notice it though they their columns being filled up about Hookers fight we as yet wait patiently for the correct report from Hookers Army you may believe we take some interest in how the fight results/ “having been there” as the saying used to be but about Sundays fight I will simply follow the 21^st which was something I did not do at that time I being with the Battery then

 

There were quite a number of Regs. crossed the river at the city but the 21^st went across some ten miles down the river & went alone with the exception of 2 pieces of Artillery & a few Cavalery their expidition was successful they reached the point for which they started took some thirty prisinors & did not lose but two men there were four wounded no one was hurt in our company Capt Brown is with us again & is in/command of the company if I was in Lt Kenyon’s place I would resign He having commanded the company all through the rough times & now Brown has come back

 

If you see Anne again tell her I think as little as ever of her

 

            Enclosed I send two Bounty checks Mine & one that I bought I think you will do as well to let Cyrus collect them paying him what it costs

                        My love to mother I have had one of the worst colds that a man could have I did think one time of applying for my discharge I hope you will continue to write often dear Mary you make me happy telling me how well you love me. I ask for no greater happiness than the possession of such love & will try to repay it      C. G. Stanton

 

[fragments]     Morning May 13—

Dear Wife

            I have again joined the Regt & we are off I think we are going up/

the Peninsula Good bye write Soon

            Court

 

                                                                                    8 Miles from Portsmouth

                                                                                                            May 14^th 1863

            Dear Mary

                                    The army of all other places proves the frailty of human calculations. But a few days ago I supposed myself permanently detached in a Battery. Yesterday I was on the march with the Regt all day under the burning Sun To day I have/at work on a fort which we are going to build at this place It is pleasant & healthy here good bathing God only knows how long we shall stay here. I hope ‘till the war is over I am twice as homesick now as I was during the worst times last winter. I wish to God they would let come home for a few days

Much Love                                                                              Court

SOURCES