Camp of 2^d Mass Redgt

near Stafford Court House

March 15^th 1863

 

Dear Brother

                        I received yours of the 8^th inst the day before yesterday, also one from Norris and a book and letter from Eliza Ann and onely wish I could hear from you all every week. You cant emagin what a rush there is when the mail arives, but the hopefull look of the crowd in many cases soon changes to one of desapointement; and in many instances curses not loud but deep are showerd upon the heads of delinquent corespondence. While the lucky ones laugh and offer to sell thiers at half price after the first reading. I am in hopes to hear from one of the girls to night, but there is not much dependence to be placed upon them any how, they write when they feel like it, and its no use to / to find fault. Eliza Ann is very prompt and I am lucky in geting her letters one every week, received generaly Thursday or Friday I see by the papers that Si Elder has been promoted. You ask what the prospect is for me? but I hardely know what to think. If I knew what Ben said to Coggy weather he requested his influence as a favour, or mearly sounded him on his opinion of me. Also if I knew what Cogeswell toled him; I had some idea of writing to Ben, but you could find out the perticulars beter than I could , and let me know, and tyhen I could form some opinion. As it is I have never spoken to Coggy since he came, altho he had the curiosity to follow me around the camp the other day as I was posting my relief, and had I made a bull you can bett your kitt I should have heard from him, and in no sylvery tones eather. I dont know how it is but / but I have been treated by the officers with something like respect, or consideration, diferent from the others, since the battle of Antietam. Even Dr Stone would make it would make it his business to doe me a favour and at the same time neglect those he should have looked out for; but he is going in to the Verigated Reg^t God help the darkies and well may the poor fellows exclaim with somebody, I forget who, "Heaven save me from my friends"! But I never have asked for a favour from eather officers or men but I got it, and am the onely recrute that has been promoted with two exceptions, the Stones of our Com Kent the oldest was made Corperal soon after goining the Reg^t and at Md Heights was promoted to a 2d Lieut by Gov Andrew on the recommendation of Col Andrus his broth Henry is now 2 Sergent of our Com but Kent resined his comission while we were at Fairfax Station on acount of a strain or hieare (wouldn't swear its spelt right) and has since received a / professorship in a coledge in Ohio they are the sons of the Rev Dr Stone of Broklyne, or at least was of Baltho he is now president of the Episcopal Coledge of Philidelphia Henery I supose will have one of the two chances no vacant of 2 lieu^t tho it hard telling, and its not at all likely there will be two promotions from one Company. But a few brushes with the rebs this spring will create vacancies, as officers of the 2^nd always get pluged for as Lem Crownenshield of Com A said at antietam when he was hit, I knew it! it's just my damed luck! he had just got over his second wound received at Ceader Mountain, and is now with the reg^t and doing duty. So you see the chance at present is small, but I would like to know what Cogeswell toled Ben, any how. You speak of sending me papers My papers came through well enough and in pretty good time if there's not over a hundred weight in a bundle, but when they send a half dozen papers in one wraper they generaly gett /

 

[sheet missing, enclosed sheet presumed to be part of the same letter although not paginated as the first sheet above]

 

made but little difference. Now it does and I loose any quantity of news by the idea. Just remind them if you please that there's a very few things transpiring ocaisionaly in the world that I have no knoledge off altho the fact of you and Farther's buying a House is not one of them by "any means"—(any means—a person guilty of using that phrase in writing should be hung.) Tave writes me that your Eddie (I think that's the way she spells it) will insists upon knowing his name Foster; That boy is the most sencible sprig of the old paternal tree, but I always said, he would show his points early, altho he's a little ahead of my time. Keep on Mose and you'll between the pare of us we'll get up a respectible branch yet! though I suppose the Northern branches will remain much as they have for the last century, mos covered, crooked and rough, faceing for ever the cold bleak / winds of the North fresh from the ever visible Hills of Agementicus, and watered by the briney stews distilled from the bosom of Ipswich Bay. But then you have the best chance, haveing a double quantity of material to work with, as with the blood regale on both sides nature leaves but little for the finisher to do.

 

How do they like the conscription Bill! How I'd like to be down to Lanceville for one hour, wount it cause the old Batchelors to shake. lucky for Mose Parsons that he got maried, tho he may have to go yet. I would like to see him when he hears the first shell yelling over his head. he'll think the nois of Co lumpus Yo. Ho! in the woods. Susanah Woodbury pinaforty in comparison. But poor men its a burning shame that they must leave, and winter fish bring us sutch a good price; but there is one thing in the army that may make them / contented, that is they can wear thick shoes, though some of them will be oblidged to learn the use of to handle a blacking brush. Just emagin for one moment Johnathan Harridan on a batalion drill, the order given to dress on the right, he all the while watching the man on horse back in front, the Officer singing out to him HARRIDAN why dress up here! What in Hell are you looking at! (Mose they do swear sometimes but dont tell Mother, she might think I listen) And Johnathan teling him had his best cloths on then. We have one in our Com something like Johnathan whome all the drill masters at West Point could never learn to handle a muskett: He told Cogeswell one day that he'd learnt most all the quems, but loading in nine times all at once, and he'd be damed if he could do that any how. But I must knock off scribling for the present so good by and write soon give my love to Mary Ann, and tell Edie he is welcom to my name,

 

                                                                                    Yours Truly            Foster

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