Harpers Ferry Sat. Night Aug 8 1863

 

My dear Judith—

                                    Yours of Aug 5 is at hand and as I lay in my “Tent De Alri” realizing it I thought I would commence a letter to you and perhaps finish it tomorrow. Did you ever see a Shelter Tent or “Tent De Alri” as they are called? Well you must believe that they are queer houses. To enter one you must commence operations by first getting down on “all fours” (“This rule is general for all subsequent formations” as Hardees Tactics has it.) then by advancing first the hind paw and the hind foot and repeating you will find yourself inside. Then lie down comfortably and you are all right till you want to get out. It may be fun for greenhorns in pleasant weather to live in such holes but an old soldier soon gets over that. Bless me I dont know what I shall do if I ever get home and have a carpet to sleep on I hav’n’t seen a bed for over a year. But thats what I enlisted for I suppose and we very seldom think of a better life.

 

This Harpers Ferry is the (something wicked) hole / we ever got into. There are two villages here Bolivar & Harpers Ferry close together between which is a line of Fortifications. Bolivar is outside of this line so we cant go there for def fun and this village is all Ruins and a terrible Homesick place. The Houses are mostly brick (and many very fine ones) but there is not a floor or partition in them. Completely gutted. All we can see is old Brick walls and pig weeds. That’s what makes me “Sober” lately. no excitement. and no nothing since Meades Army passed here. Bolivar has not suffered so much. It is quite a large village consisting however of but one street—mainly—there are lots of ladies or girls there who occasionally favor us with a sight of their pretty selves as they pass our camp. Many of them are what you might call Secesh. there is one in particular not yet out of short dressess (say sweet sixteen) Black Eyes and Hair and of course smart who is decidedly for the South though she dare not wear the “Bonnie Blue Flag” openly. If she didnt live outside our fortifications I believe I should fall in love with her and in that way pay off Arthurs visits. but as I have a wholesome dread of Rebel Cavalry I believe I shall not call on her at present. I believe the little Reb would / turn a fellow over to the rebs with the greatest pleasure. But you ought to hear em talk when we search their homes for arms &c. If some of their prayers should be answered I fear that there is little hope for we poor 34^th boys.

 

            Well Mary I believe I do remember going up to Frickers after fem Dm it currants. Oh! Dear that shows just what the girls are. When I spoke to you Melissa would be mad and if I said a word to her you would—well I wont say what—Ha Ha Melissa said we couldnt have her to take the curse off again—poor thing. pity about that.

 

            As for your promise of Toast and Coffee it would be very acceptable though I fear it would spoil my appetite for Army rations forever. As for Melissa’s promise, Thank God I have not yet had occasion to require her or anyone else in the capacity of nurse. Yes Mary I am careful of my health but my turn to be sick may come yet.

 

            Bugles are blowing “Father” and I must call the roll and go to bed. So good night and pleasant dreams—

                                                Ever Yours

                                                                        Grin /

 

                                                                                    After Inspection Sunday Morning.

            The first part of this letter was written when I was about half asleep last night which perhaps may explain its uninteresting character. Ahem! A name for Melissa’s little brother—Elmer Leshi—very pretty, very romantic, crooked as a Pump-handle. Absalom would do very well but I fear the Original owner of that name would renounce the [?]. It would be using his name in vain. But seriously let us hope that he may prove a peacemaker in that divided family. Tho it seems like hopeing against hope.

 

            Then you have had a good time with the Cavalry horses. I fear those horses will have heavier burdens to carry before the war is over.

 

What lots of beaux you and Ann have. very good boys too. I would smile to see you reeling with the uniform Arthur. let me see I believe he is the tenth or eleventh conquest you have made since I came to the war. How many more is there left? You better be sending some of them here. Let them come and earn their freedom [?] not laying round home and doing nothing but running after girls. this a bully place for such—no girls to run after—only Secesh.

 

We have lost by death another good man from this / Company. His name was Gleason. When he came out he was healthy and strong and you would think he could outlast a dozen such as I. He was unwell when we left Fort Lyon and that nights march to Uptons Hill was what killed him. He died in hospital at Washington July 28^th. He refused a discharge and I understand on account of some trouble at home. He said he as well might die out here as at home and beged of the Dr not to send for his wife but he did. His wife arrived about ten minutes after he was dead. A sad meeting it must have been especially if the storys are true about the estrangement. “I tell the tale as twas told to me”—

 

            I believe I have never told you how I like our officers. This regiment is probably the best officered of any from Massachusetts nearly all the officers being good and true men but there is always an exception you know. the Lieutenant Colonel of this regiment is a cross double faced ignorant old granny. There is scarcely a private in this regiment but can learn him to drill and as a man there is not a spark of manhood about him. As he has been in command of the Regiment but very little since we came out we have not minded but / very little his fretting and fuming. When we came here Col Wells was appointed Acting Brigadier and that put Col Lincoln in command and a sweet time we have of it. When I have any business at head quarters I always make up my mind to have a row. The other day there was a mistake in my missing report and the old H—l pestle pitched into me rough about it and as the Captains name was not on the report it of course was not official and he had no right to accuse me of “making a false report”—If the Captain’s name had been signed to it then of course I was not responsible for it and in either case he had no right to say a word to me about it but should have sent to the commander of the Company for corrections. Any one who has a grain of military knowledge or common sense knows this. Well as I never yet stood a damning from any man whether high or low without a cause I did not take it very kindly but gave it back as good as received. I got mad and so did the Colonel and he ordered me to my quarters under arrest. Well I notified the Captain just how it was and he went over and told Col Lincoln tht he had no right to arrest me and requested him to release me. But he wouldnt. The Captain then requested that he release me and place him (the Capt) under arrest which he also refused. Then the Captain got mad and gave him [?] / He told the Colonel that the affair proved just what he was viz. a man unfit for his position and without a spark of military knowledge. and came off and left him to his reflections. In about half an hour the Sergeant Major brot me notice from Col Lincoln that I could return to duty. (You must not imagine that when an officer whether commissioned or “Non-com” is arrested that he is confined—He merely remains in his quarters giving his parole).

 

            If Col Lincoln had the spunck of a louse he would have immediately placed Capt Chandler under arrest for using improper language to his superior officer but he didnt dare do it. As it is the affair is not yet over with as Col Lincoln will find out. I can prove things against him which would dismiss him from the Service if he was tried. One time when we were in Washington I was in his room Lieut Ripley being also there and one remark he then made shows what kind of a man he is. He said that My Captain was a “d—n mean, stubborn, conceited, Cuss. Is that proper language for a Lieut Col. to use in presence of a non-commissioned officer of the Company? It is in direct violation of the Articles of War. If I say anything disrespectfully of my superior officers it I may be punished the same as for mutiny. But hav’n’t I the Authority of my Lieutenant Colonel to say what I please of Capt Chandler and even to disobey his orders? / I am not commanded to obey the orders of a “mean stubborn conceited cuss” and I have the authority of Lieut Col Lincoln for considering him not my Captain and Superior officer, but as one assuming power over me, authority over this Company which he has no right to exercise.

 

Thank God I am not afraid of him and his fretting and fuming rather excites division than any fear to say nothing of respect; I guess you will call this a grumbling letter but it aint. It is only one of the little incidents of a Soldiers life and perhaps may interest you. It is what all Soldiers experience more or less.

 

                        Plese write to me soon. and forgive me if I have said anything disrespectful of my Superior officer—

 

                                                                        Truly Your

                                                                                    Soldier

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