20th Connecticut Infantry - Wounded & Captured

Item LTR-7702

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 4 pages, written in period ink.


Stafford Court House, Virginia
April 26th 1863

My Dear Wife,

Yours of Monday last was received Friday night and yesterday’s mail brought me nothing. I have received only two letters from you since my return.

We have orders to be in readiness for marching tomorrow (Monday) at daybreak. It is supposed we shall start. I do not consider the thing sure, but probably the move cannot be deferred long. All are willing to go than stay, though the load for each to carry 8 days rations excites some anxiety.

We had a very rainy time Thursday and Friday. Being on picket myself, I had a good opportunity to know. But rubber kept me dry. My new coat and the havelock envelope, everything but the boots. Yesterday, the wind blew from the northwest and it is astonishing how the mud has disappeared. Last night was quite cool. Almost severe enough, I should think, to destroy the peaches. We have a cool north wind and for this region it strikes me that the weather is as much unseasonable as we think it often is at the North.

The preparations for marching have imposed a great deal of work upon me and David. The affairs of the company concerning clothing, guns, equipment, ordnance, the sick and discharged, have to be made a great many times over. Reports are called for upon everything that is done or has been received. The amount of writing is much greater than anyone would suppose. Several of the companies are in bad shape because the officers have been negligent. I see every day that incompetents abound. Business is set aside for pleasure or dissipation and the interests of the solders and the country suffer. By tonight (for we shall be compelled to write more or less today), Company E’s matters with the quartermaster will be in shape.

Colonel Ross himself is not a good business manager. He lets things run along until of a sudden he takes a notion that something must be done and down comes the work. A perfect avalanche of blanks, all to be filled in half an hour. Look wary then. The way for us is to keep perfectly cool and after a day or so, the steam of hurry is off. He is Acting Brigadier now. Wooster is more of a business man but the men all dislike him as a commander and feel little confidence in his ability at the head of the regiment.

Whither we shall go, I can only surmise. It may be towards Culpepper or directly south towards Fredericksburg. Rumors are flying that Stoneman, who commanded the heavy cavalry reconnaissance of which I have spoken before, has passed in the rear of Fredericksburg and arrived at some point on the river far below, having destroyed bridges and railways on the route. I doubt not something of the kind is true and that the scene of active operations will open speedily. All the forces that have been moved in the vicinity lately seem to have taken a southerly direction.

Attwood and C. A. Roberts were sent to Washington last Wednesday. Wiard arrived in camp Thursday and has got back into the hospital. He had better stay in New Hampshire. Hale Smith is some down with a cold and Ed Jones still hobbles on rheumatic legs. All unable to march will be sent to Aquia Landing. There is a hospital there.

Last night at dress parade, Colonel Wooster requested company commanders to note those who stood up to duty on the march and wherever any service should be required. He said promotion should be awarded only to the worthy. That certainly is a new idea here. A few nights since, he told Captain W. that Company E’s officer had done 3 times the duty of any other company. I do not doubt that is the truth, but as a cause for advance to any one of us, it strikes me some other qualifications would be more serviceable. We shall see.

It is 8 ¼ a.m. we have just been notified that the last mail from this camp will close at 3 p.m. I send this to headquarters that it may get through sooner. Will write again if possible. I intend to write to Dea. T’s family but fear it will be impossible today.

My love to Grandma, Ida, Frank, William, Mary. My all to you dear.

As ever,

A. Upson