2nd & 3rd Maryland Infantry and 143rd New York Infantry - Brevet General

Item LTR-10597

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 2 pages, written in period pencil.

{Private}

Bellevue Garden
Monday evening

October 24th 1864

Dear Brewster,

I received your letter this morning and am highly grateful at your safe arrival and the comfortable quarters that you have been assigned to.

The Major and myself are up in Murphy’s old room and as lonely as two men can be. We talk about our being detained here and ask fifty times a day why should this be so. If General Wallace can run his machine without us, why has he not made the discovery before and ordered the whole regiment here where we could furnish officers for courts, ordnance officers and inspectors.

Captain Hennessy told the Major this morning that neither the Major and myself were needed in Washington. As we had a lieutenant Colonel there and that this view was held at Headquarters here. And that in all probability, when the commission was broken up on account of the 100 day officers going out, a new one would be organized and we two would be detached. The Major told him he would not consent to remain and that he wanted to rejoin his regiment. Let them try the game on me and if I don’t raise a fuss in Washington, it will be because I can’t write and act. We both swear a blue streak whenever we think of their damned meanness.

Captain Hennessy said we would get commutation of quarters and be so agreeably located. The Major says commutation of quarters be damned. I want to be with my regiment.

I may get through this week, but can’t say positively as we are waiting for three witnesses. One somewhere in the state of New York and two somewhere in Virginia. We may have to wait forever unless we adjourn without them. We meet every day to adjourn to the next day. The Major meets with his court tomorrow for the first time. I do not know how I shall kill time during the day.

I trust that you have become in a measure settled and doubly instituted. The school for officers and non-commissioned officers should be resumed abroad if practicable.

Please post me thoroughly, not all changes that are being made in my manner of doing business and inform me whether they are in your view beneficial. Are we Wisewell’s Brigade? What is Colonel Sile doing? Give me all the news.

Respects to all the officers.

Yours Truly,
D. P. DeWitt
Colonel