A7266
Fort Scott, VA Friday Eve, Sept 19 th 62
Dear Dan,
I have just returned from the Camp of the 19th Conn pleasantly situated in the “Classie[?] precincts”[??] of [stain} Alexandria. I started this morning immediately after Roll Call for their camp and have been down there all day shaking hands and listening to the news. Myself and two others were the first fellows to get down there and [illegible to end of line] ?set upon by a crowd of fellows from all over the County each asking for his particular friend. I got rid of them all by letting them that our whole Company would be down before the day was over and experience proved my prophecy a true one. After a time I found Cott and was completely bewildered at the sight of those great paws pun[stain]g through the crowd to get the first shake. It made the tears start in my eyes to see do many from home. It seemed like a real sou[stain] home gathering. Romey[‘Ronnie’?] was the first one I saw and I spent most of the day with him[page ends] Edgar Calhoun came up and shook hands, and asked me if I remembered what I told him a year ago. I told I could not. Said he, “you told me just before you left that we should all have to go,” and I begin to believe it. All the boys look tough and hearty[?]. “Enos[?] ??????” hold the high and responsible position of Corporal and fills it as [stain] well as a man six ft four can fill such a position. Enos[?] and I had a good motherly talk about the old times in Judea and I am not sure that I did not ask him for a “chaw of Tobaccer.” Frank Nichols shewed us a picture of his better half and he and Shel. Clarek[??] seem to be very much pleased with the condition of the Union.. I was introduced to Walter Burnham and had quite a long talk with him. The boys think him the most of an Officer in the whole lot so Romey[Ronnie?] tells me. Capt Williams is a nice appearing man and the only fault I have to find with him is that he is related to Capt Williams formerly of our Regt a very poor specimen of the genus Homos[?]. But that is his misfortune not his fault. The Capt Williams I mean used to preach poor sermons in Woodbury. I saw Capt Gold and had a conversation with him.[page ends] He wished to[over ‘me’] be[over ‘to’] remembered kind[?] to Judea friends when I wrote. Sam Gurr[?] and ???? Osborn are in the Litchfield Company as also George Mason. Sargt Ells formerly of our Company as[‘is’?] ranking Capt in the Regt and they all expect a great deal of him and will not be disappointed . Sheriff Peeler[?] is in command of Co[?] R. a company of tough looking men in comparison to any of the other companies. I wonder if he will edify his command with any of his eloquent Orations such as he delivered to us in Hartford, full of bad grammar and worse sense, and inspired by evil spirits. The Regt is the best Regt that I have yet seen from Conn and as far as material goes is a much better Regt than ours. We may be proud of Litchfield County. She sent the best Company in the first three yrs Regt and now she sends the best Regt that has left the State.[line ends] Sheriff Wesyls[?] is very popular with the men and Lieut Col[Lieutenant Colonel] Kellog suits them to a dot. If he only keeps good watch of his apetite[sic] for Whiskey he will be the most popular man in the Regt. Sheldon Clark says that Alf Hurlburt tried to get the position of major in the Regt, but was not successful. If I had know that he was fishing for such an appointment I would have written home an account of his doings in the Seven days fights. [page ends] I had a great many questions to answer about our experience in war matters and about Camp life and in return the boys told me all about affairs in Judea. You wanted to know if we had enough to eat and what kind of rations we have. Well, since we came to the forts we have had enough to eat, and as good as ???? ???? boys can expect Salt Hotse, Salt Pork, Salt bacon, Soft Bread, antiquated beans, Rice and Potatoes. Not much such kind of living as we had on the Peninsula. What made you think we were in Maryland. We are in Fort Scott Virginia and have been all the time. I am glad that you were so successful in your game with the Litchfield boys. We are whiping the Rebels in Maryland with such good success that I think the War will be over sometime. If we cant whip the Rebels with the Army now coming into the field we had better hang up and go home. If your brother comes this side Long Bridge you must write and tell me about it for I wish to see him if there is a chance. What a strapping fellow he will be with those straps on. Write soon and tell me all the news.
Yours Truly.
Charley Goodyear
Fort Scott, VA Friday Eve, Sept 19 th 62
Dear Dan,
I have just returned from the Camp of the 19th Conn pleasantly situated in the “Classie[?] precincts”[??] of [stain} Alexandria. I started this morning immediately after Roll Call for their camp and have been down there all day shaking hands and listening to the news. Myself and two others were the first fellows to get down there and [illegible to end of line] ?set upon by a crowd of fellows from all over the County each asking for his particular friend. I got rid of them all by letting them that our whole Company would be down before the day was over and experience proved my prophecy a true one. After a time I found Cott and was completely bewildered at the sight of those great paws pun[stain]g through the crowd to get the first shake. It made the tears start in my eyes to see do many from home. It seemed like a real sou[stain] home gathering. Romey[‘Ronnie’?] was the first one I saw and I spent most of the day with him[page ends] Edgar Calhoun came up and shook hands, and asked me if I remembered what I told him a year ago. I told I could not. Said he, “you told me just before you left that we should all have to go,” and I begin to believe it. All the boys look tough and hearty[?]. “Enos[?] ??????” hold the high and responsible position of Corporal and fills it as [stain] well as a man six ft four can fill such a position. Enos[?] and I had a good motherly talk about the old times in Judea and I am not sure that I did not ask him for a “chaw of Tobaccer.” Frank Nichols shewed us a picture of his better half and he and Shel. Clarek[??] seem to be very much pleased with the condition of the Union.. I was introduced to Walter Burnham and had quite a long talk with him. The boys think him the most of an Officer in the whole lot so Romey[Ronnie?] tells me. Capt Williams is a nice appearing man and the only fault I have to find with him is that he is related to Capt Williams formerly of our Regt a very poor specimen of the genus Homos[?]. But that is his misfortune not his fault. The Capt Williams I mean used to preach poor sermons in Woodbury. I saw Capt Gold and had a conversation with him.[page ends] He wished to[over ‘me’] be[over ‘to’] remembered kind[?] to Judea friends when I wrote. Sam Gurr[?] and ???? Osborn are in the Litchfield Company as also George Mason. Sargt Ells formerly of our Company as[‘is’?] ranking Capt in the Regt and they all expect a great deal of him and will not be disappointed . Sheriff Peeler[?] is in command of Co[?] R. a company of tough looking men in comparison to any of the other companies. I wonder if he will edify his command with any of his eloquent Orations such as he delivered to us in Hartford, full of bad grammar and worse sense, and inspired by evil spirits. The Regt is the best Regt that I have yet seen from Conn and as far as material goes is a much better Regt than ours. We may be proud of Litchfield County. She sent the best Company in the first three yrs Regt and now she sends the best Regt that has left the State.[line ends] Sheriff Wesyls[?] is very popular with the men and Lieut Col[Lieutenant Colonel] Kellog suits them to a dot. If he only keeps good watch of his apetite[sic] for Whiskey he will be the most popular man in the Regt. Sheldon Clark says that Alf Hurlburt tried to get the position of major in the Regt, but was not successful. If I had know that he was fishing for such an appointment I would have written home an account of his doings in the Seven days fights. [page ends] I had a great many questions to answer about our experience in war matters and about Camp life and in return the boys told me all about affairs in Judea. You wanted to know if we had enough to eat and what kind of rations we have. Well, since we came to the forts we have had enough to eat, and as good as ???? ???? boys can expect Salt Hotse, Salt Pork, Salt bacon, Soft Bread, antiquated beans, Rice and Potatoes. Not much such kind of living as we had on the Peninsula. What made you think we were in Maryland. We are in Fort Scott Virginia and have been all the time. I am glad that you were so successful in your game with the Litchfield boys. We are whiping the Rebels in Maryland with such good success that I think the War will be over sometime. If we cant whip the Rebels with the Army now coming into the field we had better hang up and go home. If your brother comes this side Long Bridge you must write and tell me about it for I wish to see him if there is a chance. What a strapping fellow he will be with those straps on. Write soon and tell me all the news.
Yours Truly.
Charley Goodyear
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