New Berne N^o Carolina

Sept 28^th 1864

 

My dear Sogg.

                        In accordance with established custom, my oft-repeated promise, and the dictates of the heart within me, I now lay out to answer yours of so long ago that you must have forgotten you ever wrote it. Did I do the square thing by you in the matter of correspondence? I did not. Why did I not? Because I was troubled with ennui. Now let us, in the spirit of love inquire, what is ennui? It is a species of languor and stupidity—a cloak of laziness, which when put "on-we" find it difficult to shake off, until roused by the promptings of humanity and friendship. It were needless to investigate the meaning of "promptings"—so I will only say that is a technical term for the favors I have so often rendered you, when Packard has requested you to "begin the Grammar lesson". What then is friend- / -ship? It is a bond of union—illustrated nowhere better than in my devotion to you through every emergency—in spite of malignant rumor and first-class falsification (A good word?) Sogg, you know you have no truer friend than the 'umble subscriber, and therefore you are not huffy that I have lain so long or my oars in quiet neglect of your last good and friendly letter. Quits, my boy, quits, and let's start again. I am very glad you are so near Arms. I hear from you indirectly every few days. You wont do better in the section of country to which G. Welles has consigned you than to cultivate "P. Royal"—Now I dont mean, go ashore and engage in the raising of sweet murphys, when I say cultivate P.R. much less do I mean increase the mulatto population of the District—but get thoroughly acquainted with Arms, whom you will surely find a Man and a Brother.

 

            Since my last I have heard from Chamberlain, Butler, Sumner(!) and Kernochan—and (how could I forget it) C. Wesson. Who will dare to say / in face of these facts that a comet is not about to visit this mundane home of ours! Mat Borden didn't get his degree, and has gone on to General Somebody's staff. Pratt & Owen are studying medicine in N. York. Bill Whitney is going to Europe this month, perhaps to be gone two or three years. He don't want to go, but his father thinks he'd better. He says "I dont want to go stumping around with a guide-book gazing at Cathedrals and ruins". Bill, D[?] Wesson & Packard have been together at the White Mts most all vacation. You can imagine they had a good time. Perry's at Union Theo. Sem. New York and rooming with Stebbins Thats about all the news I know. The only excitement here is that Yellow Jack is making us a real good and a real long visit. He has diminished the resident population manifestly, and the important question now is how much longer will he tarry. We bury fifteen or twenty daily. The first frost will bury him.

 

            How is the boy Ives? Arms dont seem to think he makes much of a Pay M^r. What do / you say about the military situation? Brevet Maj Gen Weitzel of Butler's staff has been down here and he says Grant is able and has been able for weeks to go into Richmond, but that his object is to cut all Lee's communications and bag his army—and that this he will do. The movements of Sheridan would seem to tend towards this desirable end. Grant says if he sends one man to Early he will attack him. If he does attack him, you will hear of a bloody and decisive battle. Sogg, the end draws near. The North was never so united and earnest (the loyal part of it) as at the present time. Everything looks favorable. The army is a unit for Lincoln, and the smutty Joker and Patriot will be our next Pres. Bet on it if you find any M^cClellan men and dont regard y'r oath of office. Arms used to blow for Little Mac—perhaps you can trap him. Will you write? I know you will. Love to Arms, Ives & Huntington

 

As for yourself, believe me

Jesup—

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