Letter dated 22 March 1865, from Silas Doolittle, 75^th New York State Volunteer Infantry

 

                                                                                    Savannah, Ga.

                                                                                    March 22d/65

 

Dear Sister,

            Again I was made one of the happiest of mortals by receiving your interesting and refreshing letter of March 3-4-6, and to day being out of employment, I will begin an answer, although there is not much news to write.

 

            There was a number of U.S. Senators here yesterday with their wives making a visit. we cleaned up our camp, for we expected them to visit every camp, but they did not honor (?) us with their august presence

 

            There is a theatre here in town in full operation and another going to be started. I will send you some programme’s if I can get a paper to wrap them up in. I have been nearly every night for this reason. if I stay at home the boys will be sure to wake me up with their noise when they come home, and another thing is they have a guard from our Regt to keep order, so after tattoo I just borrow some arms and go up and the Door Keeper, thinking me a guard, says nothing, so I pass in. so you see it costs me nothing, only a little strategy, for a flank movement would look suspicious. it must be done bold & with a buisness air.

 

8.35 P.M.

 

            The boys are all out at the Thatre, but I did not go to night, so I will try to finish my letter, for I am on Orderly at Hd. Qrs. tomorrow. I will send you a paper with this.

 

            There is a Brigade of “Niggers”, or rather, baboons here in town. You ought to see the style they put on, with their white gloves, a ‘la militaire’ I think it is an insult to U.S. soldiers to put the uniform on Orang-ou-tangs. but enough of this. You will think I am rather bitter, perhaps.

 

            Now dont say anything about your letters dull & not interesting, but just write me lots of just such dull ones, for you beat my Michigan correspondents “all to pieces”.

 

            I have written a letter to Uncle Edward but have received no reply. I have also written to Miss Julia Foster per request of Alice. I hear from Coleman & Alice occasionally.

 

            I have been out visiting this afternoon with one of my tent mates over to the place where we used to get our rations cooked, and had quite a pleasant chat with the old lady and her two daughters. she gave me a lecture for letting my cat that she gave me, run away, and I of course, expressed my regret that the cat was lost, but the cat was rather unclean (?) around the tent, therefore, I considered an empty house better than a bad tenant.

 

            We have very nice weather now, but suppose you have very disagreeable weather there, muddy and snowy, etc. I think I shall live in the South after the war, for I like it so well. the climate seems to agree with me. I think I never enjoyed better health in my life.

 

            It is growing late & I am growing sleepy and must close, but will try to write a longer letter next time. There is a party of seranaders over across the street playing & singing. they sound like a squad of cats—but good night.

 

                                                                                                Your Loving Brother

                                                                                                            Silas Doolittle

P.S. Direct as before

 

 

This letter is postmarked March 23, 1865, and is addressed to:

 

                                                                        Miss Sarah Doolittle

                                                                        Wolcott

                                                                        Wayne Co.

                                                                        New York

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