Yale Apr. 4^th 1861

 

Dear Father:

                        Tuesday night saw me safely ensconsed in 63 S.M, after a pleasant journey from Norwichtown. I devoted Wednesday to seeing the bold soldier boys, visiting Capt. Chester Capt. Peale etc. The boys are all in fine spirits. Henry Snow & Erastus Lathrop each took especial pains to inform me that there was no thought further from their minds than going home. They are "in for it" & will do or die. The first Reg. are in camp in a large lot / behind the Hospital, and I have been up once or twice to see the Norwich boys in the "Hartford Rifles"—I haven't heard anything from Capt. Harland's Comp. since they left the Nor. & Wor. Depot. Tutor Hutchinson stopped me after recitation last night, and asked me if I knew that my brother W^m's wife was dead. He got a letter from Turkey with the intelligence. it is a sad stroke to poor W^m May it pose a rich spiritual blessing to him. I suppose you have had the news. If so, please inform me if the child was living. Emily's parents will feel their loss greatly. But she died in the midst of preparations for usefulness and this will be consolation to her / friends.

 

            The military excitement in college runs high. Four companies—one from each class—for the purpose of drill in military tactics, have been formed and drill masters appointed. Of six chosen for our company, I have the honor to be one. My squad will begin practice next Monday. I have a book on the subject, and with my former observations, and the opportunity to see the Reg^s here drill, I guess I shall get along. I hope you will not think me wild, when I say that if any comp. goes from Yale—I shall go. And further than this, If I can get an appointment in any decent company or / Regiment, it will be a strong temptation for me to leave. I have thought of the matter a good deal lately, and aside from any patriotic considerations, which I trust you will believe are not without their weight with me, I have come to the conclusion that the influential men the men in the next fifty years of our country's history will be the men who come out of this struggle with honor. If I am ever going to war, the sooner I go the better. If I am not to graduate, all the time I spend here after this, will be as good as lost. Physically, I think a campaign would do me good, And the experience which it / would give one who cared to improve his opportunities, would be of invaluable benefit. The amount of the matter is I want to go. My college course so far as high scholarship is concerned is not amounting to much, and costs a good deal. If I should join the army for a year or two, I should be supporting myself, and save you the disgrace of having a son graduate with a low- or even no-appointment. 2^nd Lieut. Fuller of Capt. Chester's Comp. is very sick with inflamatory Rheumatism at Mr. Russels house, and will not be able to go with the rest. I am going down this afternoon to see him and the / Capt. and perhaps I can get Fuller's place. It will be a splendid chance for me. I do hope if I can go you at home won't object. I am ready to go as private, but if I can go as an officer (and if there is a comp. formed in college, I might get one) I am more than ready. It is more than likely that before the term is through a great many will have to go, and it is only a question of time. But—I am not 2^nd Lieut. yet, and probably shall not be. I will write you very soon again, if I make any important move. The report is that the 1^st & 2^nd Regs. are ordered to march Wed of this week. This is probably / untrue. Bacon of my class is Adjt. of the 1^st Reg. Sanford of my class is 2^nd Lieut. of the U.S.A. Sam^l Appleton is 4^th Lieut. of his uncle Fletcher Webster's Comp. Boston—Brown, of my class is Adj^t of a Reg. in New York. The latter says he will get any of his friends, a Lieutenancy at least. You see Yale is alive—Are you willing to write a son if he is willing to go? Somebody must go. May I? With love to the folks, I am, as may I continue, your patriotic, but still dutiful son

C.J.A.

 

[overleaf]

 

Cha^s Rec A May8/61

SOURCES