July 27, 1862. In the
morning Henry & I went out in the yard to see the chickens – while comeing
back I fainted but was soon well. After breadfast Tina sent word that she had a
turkey & we must come over & spend the day. Georgie Rosa & I went.
In the afternoon it rained so that we could not come home. I wrote to Winston.
[Rebecca] July 27, 1862.
Clearly and cool. Tivie has a faint turn and falls in the yard before breakfast
– Seems well after breakfast and goes to dine with Mrs Stephens on a roast
turkey. George and Rosa also, leaving Henry and myself to write letters. Send
off letters at 4 P.M. to Willie and Davis. The rain continues until sunset and
prevents Tivie’s returning.
[Octavia Stephens to
Winston Stephens]
Rose
Cottage July 27, 1862
My own dear husband
I was very
pleasantly surprised yesterday by receiving your letter by Mr Shook, he came
while I was clearing off the dinner table. I went to the gate and talked a few
minutes with him. I was indeed glad to hear from you as I did not expect a
letter from you by the next mail as I thought you would not have time to write
in time for the mail after your return from Tallahassee, & had made up my
mind not to expect one, but that letter saved me a great disappointment for I
expected to see you in person the middle of this week but now do not expect you
for three or four weeks at least, as Mr Shook is to be here two weeks, & I
know you will not come until his return as he said you told him to find out the
best place to cross &c. Mr Priest told me that you said that you would come
in ten days to bring money &c. I was
afraid to believe it, as you wrote me you thought it would be some time before
you came, but Clark raised my hopes by telling me that you wanted to surprise
me. I had not heard a word from you for
three weeks, when last Monday I went to town and Clark brought me two letters
from Mr Priest & Capt Canova. and an hour or two after that I received two
more by the mail. everyone tried to find
out something about you for me but only heard that you were at the brickyard
near Jacksonville one night only, then went to Lake City on your way to
Tennesee, so you can imagine the state of my feelings before I received those
four letters. I did not think you had
gone but thought you were ordered to go.
Well my dear I have
made quite a change. I am now at
Clark's, when I got this page written Tina sent for us all to come over and eat
turkey, so Georgie, Rosa & I came. I
wish you were here with us, but I guess you are now doing as Clark is, fast
asleep, in your old hot tent. I am not
surprised to hear that you are to be joined to a regiment, for I have expected
it for a long time, but I am vexed at it, the next thing you will be in
Tennesee or Virginia. I am sorry you
think we are yet to have more fighting for I was in hopes that this last great
battle was the last, and that it would not be very long before matters would be
settled, & I have you at home. I
think the Yankees, English, and all ought now to be satisfied.
I know you think I
have been very neglectful in writing to you, but as I did not hear from you I
did not know where to direct my letters & I wrote one to send by Mr Smith
but he did not go for a week & I dont know whether he mailed it, or kept it
& carried at last with him. You will
probably have seen him by the time you get this, and heard of Mrs Lathams
calamity. do you not pity her? and I suppose you have heard that I went to
see her and asked her to our house & that they came, for a day, do you
blame me? I hope not, I thought you
would not under the circumstances, for she had nothing to cook or cook with, or
eat out of, & I thought before I went that they had no place to go, &
perhaps nothing saved. I could not help
thinking how I would feel if I was burned out.
Mrs Latham had also been quite sick.
They have at last got off for Augusta.
Mr Smith left here with the intention of seeing you, if he has you will
learn all the particulars of the fire from him, it was a week ago tonight. I was with them when I received your letters
last Monday.
I hope our letters
will now go and come as quick as our last came.
I am astonished at your going to Crespo's. I think you must have been bad off to go to
those Minorcans for pity sake dont go there again. I think it very queer that you the pay master
went there, for your sake as well as mine dont get your name out for going to
such places. I am glad to hear that you
are a good boy so far, but dont stay until the temptation gets too strong to be
a bad boy, what I call a bad boy, if you are ever tempted
remember what you have told your little wife, remember your oath as you have
called it. I pray almost daily that you
may not be tempted, but may ever be true to me as I to you, that is all I ask
when you know from my own actions & words that I am untrue to you, then you
can act as you please, as you say I hope there may never be anything to cause
suspicion of either of us. I guess this
war has been the cause of many being tempted who would not have otherwise been,
but if my dear husband comes out clear I shall not care for others, whatever you
do dont deceive me, but let me know all, men are more "frail" in that
particular than women.
We have had another
increase in the family. Clara had nine
puppies a week ago, I had five drowned as Clark said save only four. I saved two like Taylor one black one &
one black & white one, there were three like Taylor. The colt is very fat & frisky Pet looks
badly. Burrel is going to pull the corn
from the river, which he thinks two good loads, & the animals are
destroying and turn Pet in there, he has got up to 20 ears of corn and she does
not improve, had you not better bring a curry comb for her when you come? and please bring me a small sized pan for
baking pudding & bread. Burrel says
he has saved all the fodder but the new ground and the corn is pretty good
corn, one piece of the new grounds has very large ears on it, we are now drying
corn to eat. we have but few melons
almost none & they are mean. I think
we have not had more half a dozen real good melons this year, three or
four little mean muskmelons. Clark
returned a quarter of beef last week. I
guess you'll be home before I need any more.
I hear that Braddock says that Bright must charge you 18 dollars for the
rest of the beeves, I heard that Bright had said you should have them at the
price he promised. I have not got the buggy
yet, Mr Bright has been waiting on Long to fix the hub of the wheel, and last
week went to see if Basford would turn it.
I hear that Long is
talking pretty spunky. Burrel heard him say that if someone he thought you came
to him anything about a gun, you had better come prepared. I have since heard
that he said you were “a traitor to your country & that time only was
needed to show.” Clark was going to attack him for it the other day but did not
see him. Eighteen shoats come up regularly now, but the listed sow and two or
three pigs do not now come up. There are three fine sows that come up at
Clark’s very heavy, one has got into Clarks field two or three times.
We are all in
pretty good health now, Henry is taking pills today to keep from being
sick. I took a queer freak this
morning. I went out to see the chickens,
and started back to the house, when I fainted just outside the gate, and
created quite a sensation for a few minutes, I do not know the cause as I felt
perfectly well before and since. I shall not write Sunday as I will write by
Shook and you will get it just as soon if not sooner.
I will close now as
I guess I have given you enough for once, and Clark is waiting for my letter to
close the mail. Rosa has kissed me for
Pa Pa. Good bye I hope to see you very
soon. Ever your loving
Wife
Tivie
[Augustina Stephens to Winston
Stephens]
Welaka
July 27th 62
Dear Winston
We heard yesterday
through Mr Mizell & Shook that Clark had to go to Jacksonville, but I can
hardly credit it as I feel confident if such had been the case you would
mentioned it in you letter to Tivie even if you had not have had time to write
to him, but if his discharge has not been accepted please let us hear immediately.
Clarke says tell Mr Mett it is generally customary to furnish a barrel when one
buys Syrup but rather than pay $2.50 for it he can get it whenever he wishes,
if we have any convenient opportunity we will send it down to Palatka but it
will be rather too much trouble for Clarke to row all the way down there to
carry it. Clarke says will you be so kind to Enquire in your travels on the R
Road if there is any sale for oil at what price & if you can Engage a
couple of barrels. If you can find a box of blacking any where please bring it
with you for us, the only news of any importance about our premises is that I
have made my appearance in “red Leathers” I tried to black them with Soot &
oil, but it will not answer only to mess every thing around. All are well &
send love. Your aff-
Tina
[Rebecca Bryant to Davis
Bryant]
Rose
Cottage July 27, 1862
My dear Davis,
Your most welcome
letter of the 16th was recd. the fifth day from its date, an unusual
circumstance, wish it may always happen so. I wrote you a long letter the
Sunday previous 2 wks ago which I hope you recd. soon after you wrote. The next
eveg. yours of the 3d. came & one from Willie of June 22d – and I was
indeed happy! I suppose you had a letter from him that week, but perhaps not,
so I will mention the most important items. He had at last recd. letters from
us, having been six weeks without getting a line from any one – he had
yours of June 4th – but one of yours, he thinks was sent by Mrs
Steele to Corinth – He had a note from “Father” written at Fernandina, Apr.
23d (that was 18 days before he was up
here) but does not mention its contents. He had mine, written May 26th
and says “your few lines concerning Father relieved me much, but do not satisfy
me; his being engaged in the restoration of peace is highly commendable, but I
do not like the whole position in which he stands to the Federals, and wish he
had nothing to do with them.” He mentions having attended church for the third
time that day, a privilege which he had greatly enjoyed. Mr Pierce whose school
you both attended a short time in Jacksonville, and who used to read the
service in the Epis. Church then, is now rector of a church in Mobile – Willie
intended going to hear him. He says some of the officers of the Regmt. think it
will be returned to Fla. to operate in a small bodies, but he does not think so
– He has enjoyed remarkly good health since he left Fla. and says he appreciates
and guards it carefully. Your account of your expedition to Amelia Island was
truly interesting – It must have been hazardous and disagreeable in the
extreme. I am surprised and thankful that you returned safely and were not made
sick by it. I hope you will not suffer from sickness in camp as the Autumn
approaches but have my doubts about your position being a healthy one. Tivie
recd. a letter from Winston yesterday, brought by Mr Shook, in which he says he
is not in command, but hopes soon to be relieved and come home for a visit – I
suppose he means at Jacksonville, as his camp is within 2 miles near Mrs
Haddock’s – He thinks he may see you soon, but don’t say whether he expects to
go to you or thinks you will go to see him. He says victory at Richmond was not
so complete a success as we were at first led to believe – and he things
there will be more hard fighting before we can have peace. But I still cling to
the hope that foreign powers will interfere before the U.S. Gov. have time to
carry their plans into execution; the extracts from European journels in
Chastn. Courier certainly warrant the belief that they will. Last Monday’s mail
brought me a short letter from Aunt Julia, dated the 11th inst. enclosing
one from Col Dilworth in reply to hers requesting him in case anything shd.
happen to Willie, saying he was one of the best young men he ever knew - After
enumerating his many good qualities, he winds up by saying that "he is
respected by all as a gentleman and a soldier." I wd. send you the letter
but Aunt J- wishes me to return it to her. Col D- compliments her efforts in
befriending the soldiers and assures her of his sympathy in the difficulty she
has had with the newspaper of Thomasville. He says “the assaults made on you
were positively brutal and inhuman – I fear we have some Butlers in the South.”
In explanation of this, she says that the cowardly Editor (whose life she
threatened if he wrote any more falsehoods about her brother) and his Baptist
friends had made severe attacks upon her, but they had no hold on her and some
unknown friend had defended her very warmly and silenced them for a time. She
is supported by the most influential persons there and still continues her
labors of charity. She has not recd. my reply to her last – there had not been
time. A sister-in-law of your Captain Harrison called to see Aunt J - a short
time since and spoke of you as being a great favorite of Capt H - She said that
he had said he had never felt so much interest in any young man before. You may be assured that such expressions
about my sons from those who have an opportunity of knowing them and whose
position gives weight to their opinion is very gratifying to me and I fully
appreciate the treasure I possess in my children. When you have an opportunity
I hope you write to Aunt J-. In her last she bids me remember, if I am disposed
to blame her for her course with regard to your father, that it benefits my
dear boys. I know she thinks so at any rate.
Tivie and Rosa have
gone to Mr Stephens to-day to help them eat a turkey that Mr S- killed – I
preferred writing my letters – have just finished a long one to Willie and
Henry I now writing to him. I believe Winston has given up the idea of moving
this year – The stock in the place has increased rapidly this month –
Sarah, the cook gave birth to a daughter on the 4th, the mare has a
fine colt, and Clara nine puppies – five of which, however, were consigned to a
watery grave.
You will no doubt
feel interested to know that Mrs Latham and Mrs Stephens have lately exchanged
friendly visits and neighborly acts. Mrs
L and Carrie have been trying for two months or more to get to Augusta - They
had their trunks packed and every thing in readiness to start for Orange
Springs at daylight last Tuesday - On Saturday night soon after they retired
they were alarmed by the noise and light of a fire and discovered that the new
dining room was all in flames. They went
to work bravely with the assistance of Mr Smith and a negro man who was
sleeping in the yard and saved some furniture, the silver and their trunks
which were close at hand -but the pianos, all the china and glass, their winter
clothing and many valuable articles, mementoes & c were destroyed, and the
house burned to the ground! Nothing is
left but the chimnies. It is supposed
that it caught from the pipe of the cooking stove, where it has caught several
times before, but having no workman at hand, they have neglected to put on the
spline, which was in the house.
We heard of it the next day about noon and Tivie rode over to offer
assistance - they could not get off Tuesday because the negroes that were to
row them disappointed them - and on Tuesday morng. Tivie sent H & G with
the mules for them - They staid with us until nearly dark and would have
remained over night but Mr Smith suceeded in getting hands to take them to the
Springs on Wednesday morning. I felt
very, very sad that Mrs L- should thus be left homeless - though she will have
a home with Emma I suppose. She bears up
through all with astonishing fortitude - Even consented to sing a second to
Carrie's "My Maryland" - and sang it well - I was rejoiced for her
that she heard the day before she left directly from Horatio through a wounded
soldier who came from the Regmt. after the battle of the 4th and saw
H- who was not hurt, but said he was exhausted – he had been in who was not
hurt, but said he was exhausted - he had been in five battles and recd.
no wounds - Carrie seemed just as in former times. No allusion was made to the past - We were
speaking of hearing from Willie and she asked if he had been in a battle - She
kissed me very warmly on leaving and Tivie also - I doubt if we [will] ever see
her again in this world.
I have spent nearly
all my Sabbath in writing - "these things ought not so to be" - but
Mrs S- was here all day yesterday - I intend in future to write on Saturday and
add P.S. on Sunday – We have to send out letters off Sunday P.M. as Mr Dean
leaves at day light on Monday. Mr Smith expected to go to Jacksonville and I
wrote a note requesting Mrs Maxey to send Willie’s daguerreotype by him – but
hear to-day that he is not going to J- at present – I am disappointed by this.
Willie sent me 50 stamps – those you ordered did not come – would be glad of a
few when convenient -
Much,
much love from all -Yrs. most fondly
Mother
[Winston Stephens to
Octavia Stephens]
Camp
Stephens July 27, 1862
My Darling Wife
Your long &
interesting letter was received yesterday by Mr Smith & you can better
imagine my joy than I can describe it. I
was delighted as it is the 2nd since I left & as you say I have been away a
month. Mrs Latham & Carrie were on
the Cars going in [to] Jacksonville to see Mrs Granger. They all return to Lake
City tomorrow. I got on the Car and went
in Town on business, but did not have the pleasure of speaking to them. Poor woman she has lost her house &
nearly all she had. I do pittie her
& wish I felt able I would help her but I am too poor to help now. My
pickets caught a man that had left J. with the Gun boats & did not return
until a few days ago & I am not positive whether he is a bad man, his name
is Herm, he reports that he has been in Fernandina since he left & that he
had a pass in his pocket from the Officers & it was that that I went to
Town after, but as his Wife had gone out to my Camp to see him I did not get it.
My position as Commander of this Post is an unenviable one as all such cases
come up before me & some days Ladies that appear to have seen better days
come out & beg for something to eat, & the Government feeds so scanty
since we have been down here that I have to refuse them, as my men barely get
enough, we spare them a little corn & that is about all. I go in Town very frequently on business
connected with my Command, but not on pleasure, I have never called on Mrs
Maxwell yet infact on no one but I think some of my mess mates like to go to
Town to see the pretty faces of some of the Girls, but your old man has other
fish to fry, in fact he is getting too old for such things, 33
think of it! I do feel old but hope I'll
not be discarded on account of my age as it was known some time ago. I was really so busy that the 13th passed by
without my thinking of it so that expecting of it did not make me feel older. I
cant see why you had not received more letters for I wrote as many as three in
one week since I arrived here. I have not received any from you through the
mail & I suppose yours have gone the same way. Tell Mother that no
communication is allowed with the Gun boat unless they should come up under
flag of truce, then I would receive them & could send off a letter. No boat is allowed to go to them unless Genl
Finegan should send to them on special business, if she sends a letter I will
get it off if a chance presents itself.
I may go over to Augustine under flag of truce & could send it
then. I am glad you mustered courage
enough to whip Jess & Jane & hope you will not allow them to suffer so
long any more without correction, whip them to hurt and you will not be
troubled to repeat the dose often. My
Dear ride as often as you wish & when the colt gets a little older I had
rather you would ride Pet but I do hope you will take exercise on foot, as it
is better for you in your situation, please walk some every evening & ride
when you please. I wrote you in one of my letters stating how many negroes Mrs
Bradley had lost & I think it was seven. Letty and her children &
Simon. The rest she sent to Georgia but Nelson & a few small ones, she
hardly has force to save her crop & Mr Bryan lost 34 in all, it is
estimated that 1500 negroes are at Fernandina.
I am glad you miss me & hope you will appreciate me more when I
come, I did not know I was of such consequences. I am not surprised that Tina exchanged visits
with Mrs Latham as it is her to a fraction, you will learn more of her
character one of these days, when she is mad she will say any thing and do any
thing & then get in a good humor & be a good friend until mad again ‑ dangerous
woman in her disposition & if not My Brothers Wife would hate to have
my wife so intimate & would not be surprised if you have a quarrel
yet. she is capable of being good &
very agreeable & then she can have as little mercy as any one. I am glad you wrote to Ma as I know she
thinks a great deal of you & is very lonely & low spirited & hope
you will do so again. I got the Osnaburgs will get it home when a chance
presents itself. Mr Smith will be out soon & perhaps he can bring the
Osnaburg with him. I want you to write at least once a week & every chance
you have by private hand. My Wife you dont want me home more than I want to
come home sometimes I am tempted to quit any how but that will not do as long
as I can help it. They talk of putting
us in a regiment, if they do the men have determined to run me for one of the
field Officers, but I am trying to prevent it as I dont want the position. I will come up I expect before we are formed
into a regiment. Capt Dunham will be
here soon with his Artilery Company ‑ Give much love to Mother & the boys
& Clark & family & dont allow Tina to see this as my mind is too
freely expressed. Give My Darling Rosa a
thousand kisses & then she can help you to as many as you wish ‑ I remain
as ever your devoted
Husband
Winston
Stephens
[Davis Bryant to Willie
Bryant]
Camp
Cooper July 27, 1862
Dear Bro. Willie
I was blessed last
week with four letters, the greatest gift I have rec'd in a long time. I do wish I could know that you was enjoying
the same blessing! It is too confounded
bad you can't get yours some way. These
are the only ones I have rec'd since I returned from my visit home, four weeks
ago, about. I found some on my return but they were old. I went on picket last
Monday. My time was not out until Thursday morn’g, but luckily one of the Men
got permission to go to the cars (8 milies from our situation) and on his
return brought said letters, and they could not have struck me at a more
faborable time. The $30.00 from you was particularly acceptable as I have not
yet rec’d a “red” or “plaster” from Govnt not com bounty. And consequently was
about "out of Soap." I shall
not however use it all myself I think.
Will probably have to use some of it for taxes. My letters were from you, Mother, Beck, &
Chauncy. Mother mentions rec'g one from
you, the last, of June 1st. I suppose,
however, she has rec'd more ere this as they get their mail regularly every
Monday now. That is from O.
Springs. It is not at all regular to O.
Sprs. A letter I wrote her from
Jacksonville on my way to Camp was Eighteen days reaching her, accd her
last to me was ten days on the way. I
suppose they were all well as she did not mention the contrary. She had just rec'd a letter from Aunt Julia
in regard to Father and her publication, and she was feeling rather badly about
it, though Aunt J‑ explained it more satisfactorily than I thought she could, i‑e,
to Mother. She says she merely meant to renounce him politically, and
was influenced to take the course she did by friends &c. An Editor in
Thomasville published some outrageous falsehoods about Father, she writes
Mother, and she went to him with an influential gentleman friend and told him
if he continued in that course she would certainly kill him, and that
although she had renounced her brother politically no one should censure
him falsely and live. I blame Aunt Julia much for acting so quickly in
regard to father. She should have at
least waited to hear something from us, knowing as she does what little
confidence can be placed in reports, and even newspapers at this time And I think that in any event it was
unnecessary, I am glad to know that it was meant as she states to Mother,
though I think the public will not properly understand it. You may have already
learned all this from Mother and Aunt Julia both, but I mention it for fear you
have not. I intended writing Aunt J. on the subject but really did not know how
and now glad I did not at that time. I cannot account for our not hearing from
father by some means. I believe only one Gun Boat has been on the St. Johns for
some time past and I understand they have now all left. I wrote you a week ago
last Wednesday, quite a "comprehensive letter.” I think, going some
distance back, in which I expressed myself fully in regard to father, I trust
you have rec’d it as I directed it as before. As I have nothing later from him
I have nothing further to say. We can only wait as patiently as possible for
the future to disclose the facts of the case.
Beck's letter was
one week on the way. She mentions having
rec'd one from you that week. Also that
Mr Burnett advises their remaining where they are for the present, and she has
her piano, which I think altogether, will make an inmprovement in their health
and spirits as they were in anxiety and suspense before, from indecision. The piano will be company for both. She says
Lou expects to come down on a visit to Mrs Burnitt soon which on her account I
am also glad to hear.
Chauncey had just
been to Jacksonville on a visit with Syd. Mrs Robin is keeping house there now,
He complains of your not writing him as you promised. Says you have not written
any of the boys since you left and thinks you have not “done them proud.” He is
a “mightly” good fellow, has written me several kind friendly letters. He
enclosed your last to me (of 10th) found it on his desk on his
return from J-e. He mentions the Gun Boats coming up and taking off Mr.
Halliday and Florida Flotard, and that Briggs was on board and it is supposed
is to marry Florida at once. Old man Tomb had been driven to the Gun Boat by
the Broward. He has no doubt acted badly. I am very sorry for the
family. He went alone, of course.
About two weeks ago
I had quite an exciting and dangerous adventure. The Capt. and [?] picked men
(I of the [number?]) crossed in two yawe boats to Amelia Island for the purpose
of intercepting pickets surprising a company, or parties that might "be
about loose" and hoped we might catch some important personage, as we had
understood that parties frequently went from the town to deserted residences
not far from the place to get fruit &c. We started from camp from where we
were to take the boats – 5 miles from camp – taking 4 days provisions (cooked)
with us. We had to row about 20 miles before we could effect a landing which
took us until about 2 o'clock or later and a pretty hard pull it was, with
heavy oars, & frequent grounding as we went up the creek. We landed and got settled in time to take a
short nap before morning, lying on the long grass between hammock and
marsh. Started early after taking a breakfast
and hiding what of the biscuit & fresh beef, we could not take in our
pockets, or carry in any way, through the hammock or rather thick scrub
through which we had to go. We did not go far before we struck the beach where
we thought they might have to relieve pickets and thought it possible we might
"bag some larger game" so stopped in the scrub and posted a lookout
on a high sand hill. Waited until we
were nearly devoured by mosquitoes & redbugs when we resumed our march
through about the thickest (at times) places I ever before “attempted to
penetrate with success.” We would some times follow a guerrilla path some
distance, but, generally were unable to walk erect any distance. We walked in that way nearly all day,
occasionally stopping to rest, of course, in the mean time visited all the
places we had intended without seeing anything or much sign and none
fresh. But as we proceeded some became
careless, and unfortunately just before sunset we ran against a picket, and
drove it in! It was stationed in a house
where we expected to find it, if not a company – as a company had been
stationed there - but we did not approach it properly, and consequently, were
discovered. After that we concluded we
could not effect much in the time our provisions limited us to, and as our
boats were unavoidably exposed, decided to return to our boats and leave the
island that night. So after lying in
ambush some time, with a hope that they would send a company out that night, we
returned to our boats, and leave the island that night. So after lying in
ambush some time, with a hope that they would send a company out that night, we
returned to our boats, reaching them at about 11 o’clock, and, by the light of
the moon, rowed until about 2 o’clock in the morning when we reached the main
land and camped until the following morning. You see we had had but
little or no rest or sleep in a day and two nights. The we had houses greencorn
& a watermelon or two which was an agreeable change. Some of us walked to
camp from the landing & some sent for their horses. The Yankees were
shelling the island all of the day we left our camp on the main (the day after
we left the island) I know we threw Fernandina into a state of commontion. The
island is the most favorable place, i-e the country, for guerilla
warfare you can imagine, but the mosquitoes & redbugs - ouch! I stood the trip as well as any, many broke
down completely. But this child will never
be found on such another adventure.
I learn from Mother
that Winston is stationed at Camp Finegan near J‑e. I do wish I could get over there occasionally
but it is useless. The rules are now
very strict in regard to furloughs, not allowing more than two to be absent at
a time & that time must be short.
I cannot go there and return in less than four days on horseback, or a
week by R.R. It is rumored the independent Co’s are to be thrown into a Regt.
and I don’t doubt it. But if they are to be kept in the state, as it is said
they are, I don’t see the sense in it. I suppose you know that all the other
troops are sent off.
I have concluded we
have quite an easy time here, on the whole, notwithstanding our terrible picket
duty, as while in camp we certainly have an easy time. I wish you say more
about your condition. I am very sorry and pained to hear that you are so
disagreeably situated. I had supposed
the contrary, and thought you would like the change, not knowing, however, what
the change was. How often I wish we could
be together either here or there.
As we are fixed, Mother & all, I would prefer to have you with me.
Otherwise, I would not care.
What glorious news
we have had lately. I fear however, it
will not have the effect we thought such a victory must have, that is, the
immediate effect. I wish England and
France would pounce on Old Abe about now, though I have no idea they will make
such a move until both sections are nearly exhausted. Thats my opinion you know.
I do wish we were stationed
nearer civilization, that we might know what is going on, generally, and get
letters oftener, and see a thing or two.
I commenced this
yesterday for fear of accidents intruding to all to it as matter offered until
tomorrow, when it is to go, but as I must answer the others rec’d, and have
written all on hand now will close and all anything that may turn up in the
mean time. They have us at work to-day for variety and because I want to write.
Will write again immediately on rec’g another from you and sooner if I
do not get one soon, unless I have reason to believe you have been ordered
away.
I trust you will
get along better in future.
Eternally
Your Aff Brother
Davis
