32nd Massachusetts Infantry

Item LTR-9186

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 7 pages, written in period ink.


Camp near Sharpsburg, Maryland
September 28th 1862

My Dear Wife,

We are still at this place and may stay weeks, may move in a few hours. It is a most beautiful day. Calm and quiet as though war did not desolate this fair land. For it is a beautiful country this part of Maryland. Mary-land. Very pretty name and should be a pretty country.

Have just finished a letter to my Mother and just heard of divine services to be held at Division Headquarters. (General Morrell's, who is a very good careful man, I think). This afternoon is to be services in the woods close to us. A Chaplain of the 62nd Pennsylvania Regiment is to preach. There is nothing but the same old errors which I repudiated years ago and am heartily tired of hearing uttered. Still, I go to encourage others. If Colonel Parker was not such a bigoted Episcopalian, we should have had a liberal Chaplain long ago. Though I would hardly want a friend of mine to come as one unless he was as firm and principled as Mr. S. It is a very, very, easy thing for a Chaplain to grow indifferent and then wicked.

I have just been out a few minutes and while I was out, I heard a man praying (which belongs to General Sykes's Division). Still a little farther away the drums were beating as some Regiment was mounting guard, or something else. And around on every hand was the hum of voices, as the men were engaged in cooking or cleaning guns, etc.. If it is as lovely a day at home how much, how very much I should enjoy it to be there. And believe me Nan, I would rather be there if it was the gloomiest stormiest day I ever saw (as far as nature is concerned). With you all around than here lovely as the weather is. The night cap and cookies and your letter written last Sunday, I received Friday night. The cap is first rate. Just what I wanted. As it will cover up my ears and keep the bugs out, and my head warm too. My cap would hurt me some as the buttons on the sides pressed against my head lying on my side. Many thanks to Mother for thinking of me and making it. I will pay her for it when I get home, by scolding her if she gets sick by her own carelessness, or if I have an opportunity in some other way. The cookies I have not tasted yet. Am keeping them till we have only hard bread to eat. Lately we have had soft bread and flapjacks. This morning I made some gravy. We had some fresh pork fried, and the officers thought that it was better than butter. This noon we are going to have stewed beans. But I thought of you this morning and of that dark colored quivering with Indian pudding you know so well how to make.

Captain Bumpus went to Washington last night or rather started for W. He is on business for the Regiment and may be gone 10 days. I don't know as it is anything to desire, unless he should have to do some hard marching in the time which I hardly think. Our men are very ragged, some of them, and all need more or less clothes. And I think we shall remain here till they are fitted out. The letter written the Wednesday previous to the one I received last Friday, I have not yet gotten. Neither the papers that I should have received a week ago. But I think they will come soon. You write you hope I have received the one, which I have not received, as you wrote of a visit to Lowell & Harlow. In that you say Mr. Lowell thought the things better remain. Perhaps so, perhaps not. I can tell better when I hear further from you how things are working. William and Thomas N. have a Bill of Sale of the Furniture fixture, etc. of the room. To insure them against $200.00, I borrowed on their names. I gave them a Bill of Sale as the quickest way. Rather than make a mortgage for just $200.00 and also so if anything happened that they would have what the things were worth over $200.00. And I paid $550.00, to make up what their Father had signed for. Understand. Well, it may be on that account he keeps the key and told Mr. Lowell not to let anything be taken away. It may be so, it may not. Now if William is afraid and is not willing to try to dispose of the things or let anyone else, (which I hope not), then there are certain things to be considered. First, not one of the framed engravings are on that Bill of Sale and he has no claim on them unless he attaches them. Second, Mr. Whiting had no business to have delivered up the keys to anyone but you. And in case of things going wrong, I shall hold him to account. You mind and hold onto that invoice. Letting no one have it only on promise before witness that they will safe return it. And I don't know, but you better get someone to copy it. But I guess there will be no trouble. If the things can remain in the rooms for free of rent and you have the key when you wish to air the rooms, etc., it will be best to let them stay. Only looking out for the stove, until December, say then to sell what I have spoken of at auction and take care of the rest. Probably l shall hear something favorable tonight, as the mail ought to come. ln either case, don't let it trouble you. I will make it come out right in the end, God willing. The new showcase I speak of could not be held by that Bill of Sale. However, let us wait and see. I should not have written in this way. Did I not think that William would take the law on his own. Brother to get his exact due. But I hope I misjudge him and that this will come out all right.

Lieutenant Hamilton has just come back from dinner. I did not go (was waiting) and says the beans are burnt. Well, I am not much disappointed. I only wish I had cooked them myself. We have been trying to get them this six weeks. Have had none since we left the Landing. And only get about a quart out of two we bought and now those are spoiled. Well, I don’t have the cookies yet. I don't want you to neglect to write.

I am surprised and saddened to hear that Frank Thomas [Private, 29th Massachusetts] is dead. Not so much so that justice is, for I thought he would not stand it. Give my sympathy to Mary Jane (Mrs. Thomas) should you meet her or sent it by Charlie or anyone else. I hope John may come home. I can do nothing for Henry Raymond but think he will be discharged, as he has been sent to the hospital. He was crazy by spells. I don't know whether it was caused by his disease or is in addition to it. Perhaps tis not best to tel1 Salome this. Only that he is sent to the Hospital and l think he will be discharged by the Doctors. Unless he should prove insane, then he would be sent to the Hospital near Washington where Charles Spear is Chaplain. Eunice has heard from the Colonel before now. As he is at Harpers Ferry and gets his letters regular. I am glad Mother Wood is going to spend the day with you and that Sarah Trish did. You better dress Mary Deacon if you want the money or speak to Mother Wood about it. The Bill is $2.75. I am quite sure as she had a best French frame and a colored Passepartout, or mat. Go up to Oliver’s by all means. Get Gardiner or George Drew to carry you, Mother and Joseph up before he goes out to the cars. And bring you back after he has been at night. Do it, and pay the Bills, bringing May down at night. Don't pay any water rent to Lowell & Harlow. As it is paid up to November.

I am sorry to hear of Jordan's death. 1 thought he would get well and be a lion in Plymouth. Whoever looks after the things, according to the invoice, will want to be very careful and particular. Hadn't you just as leave. I should have had some of the breakfast before you got through as after or was you not sure there would be enough for you, and the rest of the bean and pudding eaters?

1 have been out and eaten a few of the beans. The vinegar took away a part of the taste. I had to finish by eating two cookies and gave Hamilton two. He thought them nice. I think I would have eaten such at home. Did I used to? Sam Harlow is small spots if the fears of his wife, or her thoughtless sayings kept him from what he was assured was his duty. You know Nan, I would like to be at home as well as the next one. But I think I should be unworthy of the home and loved ones I have if I let my feelings run away with my convictions of duty. And I think Lydia Tribble did not give much thought to what she was saying or she would deem it a sufficient excuse. As it deterred her brother from going. But all these things are for good. I loved my home before I went to California. I loved it better after I got back. And when this war is over and I am permitted to be at home again (and something tells me I shall), I am sure it and you all will be dearer than ever before. Tell Joey I should like to be with him and eat some of those nice pears. I sent him one more gold dollar to put in the Bank. Or either you put a paper dollar in the Bank and keep the gold or trade it and get the premium. I heard Captain Bumpus say when he was at home he took a hundred dollars in gold to Boston for someone and got $120.00 in paper. But what few you get hold of won't make much difference. But if you can get 10 - 15 or 20 percent premium in trading at some of the shops and paying in gold, why you better save every one you get and do so. Does not Strong advertise to give premium? Should think some of them would. Mr. Nickerson had better get some lime of Mr. Isaac Wood and put all over the strawberry bed. Especially near the dykes to kill the sorrel. And in the fall, he will want to cover it with manure all over. Stable manure. 1 don't know as I have charged everything to him. If you could send note, you need not. I don't care if there is 1 or 2 do1lars forgotten. He more than makes it up in little acts of kindness for which no charge is made. How about the Morning Glories? If we had had more rain, we should have had more potatoes and vegetables. I love to see the garden growing.

I want to hear from the 29th [Massachusetts]. Write me what you hear and how they came out in the East battle. I am rather afraid to take either as you say till I know whether "Belle" is willing, my love to her and say what you will to all the teachers, especially to Martha Ann, Abby W., Caroline H. and Virginia and All. Glad an evidence of feeling was manifested for or rather against Bishops Secessionism. But am sorry the Staff was cut down. Our General is named [Charles] Griffin and is a pretty man and I think a very good officer. Is about J. Farris's size and shape, dark complexion and a pretty face. Has been married since the war commenced and lives in Washington. He used to go home quite often when we were at Miner's and Upton's Hill.

I shall urge the teeth as soon as I get home to have you get them without being cheated. Should think it would make George Harlow seem 80 years old now. Sarah has new teeth. I think it must help her in singing lots. You did not say whether they were on Gutta Percha or what. Why don't Julia H. have some? I am in hopes the mail will get along tonight. You can send me the composition I wrote Sarah about. I think I shall write Mother Wood soon if we don't move from here and should like to write Isaac and Oliver. I guess you will get tired before you get through this and I suppose when your next letter comes there will be lots I want to answer right off. It is now past 8 and no mail. I have heard it was up to General Headquarters and if so will be along in the morning. It is too bad that they cannot do as much for the soldier as to send him his letters as soon as they come. We are deprived of many things we had a right to expect would be continued to us, and were by the "regulations" guaranteed. Well, the greater the cross the brighter the crown, and when this war is over, we who come out of it can look back on what we have endured and enjoy the more the comforts of loved ones and home, and the blessings of peace. While I write, a meeting is going on close by my tent so that I hear every word. I went out to be one of the congregation, but could not stand it. The Preacher or Exhorter may be sincere about his logic. Was not logic, nor his argument to me. He took for his text part of the Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man, the two words "Son remember" and soon slid into an attempt to argue the proofs of a Resurrection out, when he came to speak of the workings of the Beam when moved upon by disease or an overloaded stomach or in other words dreams, as an evidence of the immorality within us and which we are to enjoy in the life beyond. I retired. It is very romantic and pretty to look upon a meeting of that kind, and one is easily reminded of the meetings of Apostolic times, and of the sermon on the Mount, etc.. The hearers in the immediate neighborhood of the Preacher are seated in a little more than a semicircle and extend according to the number, and then outside and surrounding the whole is a circle of men standing. Most all are bareheaded and the sea of faces upturned to the minister with the light reflected from them, and then added to that, the thousand camp fires blazing around the prayer or song, mingled with the sound of drum & fife as the music is obliged to play at different hours. All makes a scene to admire and to remember, and remember me to all. Kiss the dearly loved ones Josey May and not least.

From Yours devotedly and truly,

Josiah

Tuesday noon. It is much cooler today. A good breeze makes it quite comfortable, so you see another evidence that it is not best to worry, but hope and be as happy as present circumstances and past blessings will allow. I have fretted a good deal yesterday and last night concerning the weather, but as long as we do not have to march or drill or fight, I will be very thankful and resigned. This forenoon I have helped the men build a bush house (close by the well we have dug) to use for a bath house, and after we got it done, I went in and had a nice cool wash, and shifted my clothes and felt much better. Our well is about 15 feet deep. We dug down and put in a barrel and another top of that till 4 had been used, then took 2 boxes to finish with and filled all in with earth, and the water is cool (but rather muddy you would think). Tis about the color of milk and molasses. All call it excellent. Mr. Henry Raymond is in the Quarter Master's Department and is first rate. He is called Uncle Henry. I expect a letter today. Sure want to write to lots of people but don't know as I shall muster the spunk to do it. One of the lieutenants has made a raise of a lemon as is making some lemonade. I have just mixed up some cold composition and drunk it, as I am quite thirsty and do not care to use too much cold water. Write often and remember you have to write to only one and I have to write to 3 or 4.

Yours very truly and devotedly,

Josiah
Love to all and kiss the little ones and imagine I am kissing you.