West Point NY

January 2^ond 1862

 

My dear Mother

                        After repeated attempts I am at last seated for the purpose of answering your letter which was received nearly a month since, though I have heard so much about the raids of Morgan & other guerilla chieftains down there that I have some doubt whether my letter reaches you or not. I was very glad indeed to hear from Taff and learn that he had passed through so many dangers & hardships and came off unimpaired. I wrote to him immediately after the reception of your letter and hope to hear from him soon, yet as the communications of the army with Louisville are cut off I hardly think it possible before they are reestablished. From what I have seen in the / papers for the last day or two, I suppose he has recently been engaged in a battle of considerable magnitude down near Nashville. I dont know what reliance can be placed in the report, but it is rumored that from last accounts his division was advancing upon the forces of Bragg drawn up in line of battle I only hope he may meet with success and come off as fortunate as heretofore. But the fortune of our arms seems now to be reversed at all points. You have undoubtedly heard of the late overwhelming disaster at Fredericksburg? a few more such blows as that I think will gain the rebels their Independence. It is thought now that M^cClellan will be recalled to take command though the stupid and prejudiced cabinet seem determined to make a political affair of it, and he whose unexceptionable patriotism no one can doubt may not possess the baneful sentiments of abolitionism to suit sufficiently to suit the designing knaves who in one single / day recently cheated the country out of ten thousand gallant souls, and who act as advisers to the feeble minded "old Abe". You may object perhaps to the decided way I have of expressing my feelings, but such is almost the universal sentiment among the truly loyal persons of this section Seward has undoubted shown himself to be a patriot and a statesman, and I think he is the only one of the cabinet at Washington who can lay claim to either of these qualities or if they can they are too imbecile to make it evident. But I will leave these the architects of our countries honor and prosperity "alone in their glory" and turn to a more pleasing train of thought by wishing you a very happy New Year. It opens before me as brilliant & promising as I could wish and if yesterday and to-day's sun were but a token as brilliant as its rays of the years prosperity how joyous I would be in anticipation, but this is altogether unreasonable and I am not superstitious enough to / accept it as any indication, especially during these times of war. I am now on the verge of another examination and I hope I will meet with as much success as heretofore in finding a "soft side to a board" If I cannot pay you a visit after its termination you may know that I have been successful.

 

            I suppose you recollect that my allegiance has been transfered from your jurisdiction, and that Je suis un homme at last. It however seems to me now but a short time since I was nothing but a little "shaver". and with becoming humbleness ought I not to say how unworthy I am of the name of man but those of you who may read this letter will probably think that an axiom which needs no farther demonstration. For its deficiency in both quantity and quality I hope you will attribute it to the semi-annual visitation of mince-pie on which I dined to-day quite heartily. I received a letter from Lizzie some days since who was quite well as also was the rest of the family. Give my love to Sue & her family and also the rest of the family and tell Howard not to let you do all the writing but write to me himself and tell me of some of his rabbit hunts & his gallant exploits among the ladies & also among the rebels

 

Your affectionate son

Rezin

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