A7265
Fort Scott Va. April 11 of 63
Dear Friend,
We are having great times down here just now. We are shooting at targets with our big gun and thursday will a week, tuesday and saturday and it is almost as exciting as shooting at the Rebels and not half as gruesome for we take our time at it, but it lacks one thing which is the three _______ military life and that is danger. Today we have been firing ten inch mortars at a barrel distant one thousand yards and made some very good shots. It requires a grain of scientific knowledge to fire a mortar correctly and, as our new Col[Colonel] is well posted, we are learning a great deal. You may guess that with every fort in the defenses of Washington firing at target, it will seem almost like a battle. I went over and saw Lewis Logan yesterday and he gave me the photographs you sent. How natural they are. Mary must be quite a large girl by this time. I wonder if she expects that I will shoot Jeff Davis yet. I would like to shoot him just to gratify her. But to return to the pictures. I see Dan is in a uniform and a corporal. He makes a good looking soldier and will no doubt will yet rise to that highest pinacle[sic] of fame. You can’t image how much a prize she ________ but I am afraid you _________ yourself for Lew thinks that you sent me [page2] the last one. We were astonished at finding Buckingham [ed. Note CT Governor] elected by 2500 majority our highest __________ not needing over 500 majority but we were willing to admit we had been wrong and that there was a fair share of patriotism left the old State yet. Over 2000 soldiers voted in Conn. 450 from our brigade, 300 from Baltimore, and about 300 from the Hospitals. A good many of these of course voted for Tom Seymour but the great majority cast their votes in the right way. All of those from our company are back but one and we fear that he intends to desert, if he does not return no furloughs will he be granted to the rest of us till he returns. And what makes it more vexating[sic] is the fact that he is a new recruit and suspected of being a Seymour man. He has been dissatisfied and disheartened a long time and we are afraid he has taken this glorious opportunity to leave us. It is the meanest thing possible for a man to do to stay away beyond his time whether he deserts or not, for it deprives all the rest of the company of furloughs until he comes back or is apprehended. And in his case it is meaner if possible than it would be if any other man had done it, for he was a new recruit and had been with us less than a year and was given the privilege of going home while men who had been out here two years and were _______ voters were left here [page 3]
One of the boys who went from our company has a sister boarding with Irene and I had a chance to hear all about them. ________ is working in the shop there and is doing very well. It’s hard to realize that she is alive and well and at work, but so it is. Gilbert’s little girl is growing fast and of course a very promising individual. Gilbert has gone to his Regt and looks well, but he has a trouble about his throat and I don’t believe he will stand it. I believe I am the toughest Goodyear of the crowd after all. If I could be as healthy as I am at this present my life long I would ask no greater wealth. Strange, that since my three months sickness a year and a half ago I can’t get sick if I try. I have led my share the shakes it’s true but that is not worth speaking of. I have been expecting your Washington boy over to see me, and was going to go with him if he came and had time to the 19th to see Romey who wants to see him very much. What a curious name he has, “Gilless.” I always supposed that the “Gilless” the boys wrote about so much was a girl until I read Mr. Gunn’s last letter. But “what’s in a name.” I am going over to see Shel Clark as soon as he gets back and get [sic.] posted up about town matters .Leen has no faculty for setting anything about our town. Indeed he seems to have a spite against it and all [page 4] all the inhabitants with the exception of his relations. From Mr. Gunn’s letter and one I have received from Dan Van Cott I suppose that it is a settled fact that you are to have a military school or something approaching [sic.] to it. I hope that Mr. Gunn will find some competent man who will help instead of hindering him. Romey and I have heard that Cornelius Gold has returned. I’m so glad he has come back only I wish he were better, he’s too good to die. If he is able to travel and, Romey and I want you to try and prevail upon him to some down and see us. You know all the arguments. The benefit of a change of climate, the beauties of Virginia _______ and ________ although to tell the truth we can’t recommend either as very beneficial to the invalid. Virginia is one vast pest house. politically, morally & physically. My picture you will find enclosed. The artist has __________ all but the eyes, these he won’t take, for the good reason that he can’t. It is said that it is impossible to take as good a picture down here as at home at the north on account of the atmosphere you must be busy fixing for summer. I suppose you are working and wearing yourself out cleaning house as usual in vacations. I think you and Mr. Gunn both work too hard. I can’t bear to see you either of you growing old so you mustn’t. If you are very busy you must still find time to answer this letter.
Good Bye. Love to all.
Charley Goodyear
[page 1] P.S. Please send me you photograph when you have an off or thinking.
Fort Scott Va. April 11 of 63
Dear Friend,
We are having great times down here just now. We are shooting at targets with our big gun and thursday will a week, tuesday and saturday and it is almost as exciting as shooting at the Rebels and not half as gruesome for we take our time at it, but it lacks one thing which is the three _______ military life and that is danger. Today we have been firing ten inch mortars at a barrel distant one thousand yards and made some very good shots. It requires a grain of scientific knowledge to fire a mortar correctly and, as our new Col[Colonel] is well posted, we are learning a great deal. You may guess that with every fort in the defenses of Washington firing at target, it will seem almost like a battle. I went over and saw Lewis Logan yesterday and he gave me the photographs you sent. How natural they are. Mary must be quite a large girl by this time. I wonder if she expects that I will shoot Jeff Davis yet. I would like to shoot him just to gratify her. But to return to the pictures. I see Dan is in a uniform and a corporal. He makes a good looking soldier and will no doubt will yet rise to that highest pinacle[sic] of fame. You can’t image how much a prize she ________ but I am afraid you _________ yourself for Lew thinks that you sent me [page2] the last one. We were astonished at finding Buckingham [ed. Note CT Governor] elected by 2500 majority our highest __________ not needing over 500 majority but we were willing to admit we had been wrong and that there was a fair share of patriotism left the old State yet. Over 2000 soldiers voted in Conn. 450 from our brigade, 300 from Baltimore, and about 300 from the Hospitals. A good many of these of course voted for Tom Seymour but the great majority cast their votes in the right way. All of those from our company are back but one and we fear that he intends to desert, if he does not return no furloughs will he be granted to the rest of us till he returns. And what makes it more vexating[sic] is the fact that he is a new recruit and suspected of being a Seymour man. He has been dissatisfied and disheartened a long time and we are afraid he has taken this glorious opportunity to leave us. It is the meanest thing possible for a man to do to stay away beyond his time whether he deserts or not, for it deprives all the rest of the company of furloughs until he comes back or is apprehended. And in his case it is meaner if possible than it would be if any other man had done it, for he was a new recruit and had been with us less than a year and was given the privilege of going home while men who had been out here two years and were _______ voters were left here [page 3]
One of the boys who went from our company has a sister boarding with Irene and I had a chance to hear all about them. ________ is working in the shop there and is doing very well. It’s hard to realize that she is alive and well and at work, but so it is. Gilbert’s little girl is growing fast and of course a very promising individual. Gilbert has gone to his Regt and looks well, but he has a trouble about his throat and I don’t believe he will stand it. I believe I am the toughest Goodyear of the crowd after all. If I could be as healthy as I am at this present my life long I would ask no greater wealth. Strange, that since my three months sickness a year and a half ago I can’t get sick if I try. I have led my share the shakes it’s true but that is not worth speaking of. I have been expecting your Washington boy over to see me, and was going to go with him if he came and had time to the 19th to see Romey who wants to see him very much. What a curious name he has, “Gilless.” I always supposed that the “Gilless” the boys wrote about so much was a girl until I read Mr. Gunn’s last letter. But “what’s in a name.” I am going over to see Shel Clark as soon as he gets back and get [sic.] posted up about town matters .Leen has no faculty for setting anything about our town. Indeed he seems to have a spite against it and all [page 4] all the inhabitants with the exception of his relations. From Mr. Gunn’s letter and one I have received from Dan Van Cott I suppose that it is a settled fact that you are to have a military school or something approaching [sic.] to it. I hope that Mr. Gunn will find some competent man who will help instead of hindering him. Romey and I have heard that Cornelius Gold has returned. I’m so glad he has come back only I wish he were better, he’s too good to die. If he is able to travel and, Romey and I want you to try and prevail upon him to some down and see us. You know all the arguments. The benefit of a change of climate, the beauties of Virginia _______ and ________ although to tell the truth we can’t recommend either as very beneficial to the invalid. Virginia is one vast pest house. politically, morally & physically. My picture you will find enclosed. The artist has __________ all but the eyes, these he won’t take, for the good reason that he can’t. It is said that it is impossible to take as good a picture down here as at home at the north on account of the atmosphere you must be busy fixing for summer. I suppose you are working and wearing yourself out cleaning house as usual in vacations. I think you and Mr. Gunn both work too hard. I can’t bear to see you either of you growing old so you mustn’t. If you are very busy you must still find time to answer this letter.
Good Bye. Love to all.
Charley Goodyear
[page 1] P.S. Please send me you photograph when you have an off or thinking.
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