Gen. Harland's Staff

            New Berne

                        N.C.

 

Head Qrs Sub-Dist New Berne

New Berne N.C. May 26^th 1864

 

My dear Sogg:

                        How would you know I was here if I didn't tell you? Hinc illae Linae! Yours in regard to currents & counter-currents of our correspondence arrived safely via Norwich Town. To you, therefor my thanks are eminently doo—Due so again—Dew. I believe I have congratulated you on y'r appointment. Port Royal lost his bet with you ($4.00) and he acknowledges it like an American Man, but he was not far behind you for he wears the same strap now, and is assigned to Bureau of Provisions and Clothing in Washington. You may have heard of the evacuation of Washington N.C. Well I was there. Had been there nearly two months. Was under fire only twice and escaped without the loss of a tooth. Came down here and assumed command of this place. Live in a large mansion, built by Gov. Stanley's father, magnificent grounds &c. Big thing! Feel like / serving out my term right here. In fact the necessities of the service seem to demand that I should not be moved. I sent a letter through the lines to Lieut G. S. Dewey, Adjt 1^st N.C. Cavalry, and got an answer. He was very glad to hear from me. Thanked me for kindness in giving him the news. Said he felt enmity towards all his old friends at the North, would not shake hands with any of them, and desired me to write again very soon! Of course I took an early opportunity of doing so. He said "And so Sogg and all the Radicals have gotten soft places—opa"—I was greatly disappointed to find that he couldn't appreciate a kind and gentlemanly letter. I think I'll let that acquaintance slide. He called me one of his would-be subjugators. Mr. Grant seems to be dispelling the idea expressed in the unique phrase "would-be". The news is splendid isn't it? I'm thundering glad I'm not up in Virginia this hot weather. I hear from Loots regularly and Bill Whitney occasionally. All well. Boyden and Boltwood also keep me posted in Yale news. The troubles about the Lit are settled. / The new Board recognized the Bones Editors, and gave the supper to them. I notice that Juniors don't care to offend the Institush. I spent a good deal of time in New Haven when I was North, and enjoyed it more than I can tell you. Spent a whole week in South College consuming with Bones men. They were as hospitable and agreeable as Bones men always are. They are going to put an Iron Door and Scuttle on the Temple. This step is deemed necessary by the fact that a society has been formed in the Senior class whose object is to get into said Temple. Hope they'll have a good time at it. I meant to be on at Presentation and Shaking, but shall hardly make it out. I shall try for Commencement and I hope you can make your arrangements to meet me there. You didn't come to time very well when I was home last. And I wanted to see you very much. You know what I wanted to talk about, and you ought to have made an effort to meet me. I am utterly amazed that you should write me a letter of six or seven pages, and / not make the slightest reference to a subject which has occupied so large a share of our conversation, and which was what we were talking of when we last parted—at Guilford. Your silence is the first suspicious thing you have shown in the matter. Sogg, you will never know how I have defended you against great odds—the tongues of women—It was the apparently sole business of two females and that Cabinet-shop chap, to convince me that you—my old and tried friend—were trying to separate Miss Sterling and myself, and that to effect this you were using unfair means and playing me false. I hurled back these insinuations with the greatest persistency, and succeeded in making Nettie believe she was mistaken. As to Miss Fairchild (who hates you with the greatest cordiality, and only used you to effect her own hellish schemes) I don't care to get near enough to her to hold any conversation, nor is it necessary. If she ever had any letters signed by my name, she wrote them herself, and she is as false and bad as she is little and insignificant. Nettie Sterling was as purely innocent in the

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