A 7263
Fort Scott Va. Sept 24th 63
Dear Sir,
I received your recommend last night certified to as worthy the fullest confidence by Gen Fremont[?] John T. Howard and J. W. Raymond. I was very much pleased with it, for it was so much stronger and backed by more influential names than I could reasonably have expected that I was astonished. To day I received your letter containing the letter of introduction to Maj Raymond and I think that I have enough help to make success sure. On the outside the envelope to the recommend was written, “If Mr Goodyear will appear in Washington at Gen Caseys Headquaters[sic] and enquire for Major Raymond on Gen Caseys Staff and Capt Howard, he will fiend friends who will advise with him”. ` From similarity in handwriting I think it was written by Mr. J. T Howard of Brooklyn . I labor under a difficulty in this matter which of course the man who wrote that was not acquainted with.[line ends in middle of page; page ends]
It is impossible to get a pass to Washington only one being granted a week to each Company of from 90[?] to 100 men. Not only that, but you must state your reasons for going and the Col not only does not approve of attempts to get promotion in Colored Regts but opposes it in every way in his power, and if he should once suspect that my object in asking for a pass to Washington was in relation to that matter I would never get a pass. This I had confidentially the Capt and the Leut who are both my friends and who favor my project. They advised that I write to Washington to Maj Raymond asking for a pass from there and then the Col could not stop it anyway,[?] because such passes come in the shape of an order for such a one to appear which the Col must obey. The Leut says that Col Abbots reason for opposing this thing is that if he Regt is reduced by[inserted above] a few by[inserted above] more men[inserted above] he will lose his berth, by the provisions of a law which state that when an Arty Regt is reduced to such anumber the Command will devolve upon the Leut Col. Taking the advice of the Capt and Leut I have written to Major Raymond enclosing your[page ends] letter of introduction as an explanation of my reasons for writing to him.
My recommend will be a sufficient second introduction when I go over. I shall probably hear from this letter in a few days. I am in no hurry for I have not posted up yet quite as wel as I would like to and two or three days will help me along some for all that we have so much duty to do that there is no time except nights and not always all of them. I have received Arithmetic so that I can pass on that and have I think studied the tactics sufficiently but as you stated that I understood Mathematics. I want to pass in case they should question me on Algebra and Geometry at least ― I want to answer some questions. There are several Officers in the Regt engaged in the same business with me and one of them a particular friend of mine formerly Orderly of our Company and the one who lived in the Shanty with me last winter and it is probable if I succeed that I may get into the same Regt with some of them and that would be pleasant to start upon among strangers. They as well as any of the rank and file who attempt to get promotions[page ends] are under the ham[??] of the Col. And work quietly. Father has been to Meriden and told my sister of the attempt I am making and she objects because she wants to have me come home in the spring and fears that I shall not stand it. I wrote that if I found any harder duty than every man does under the administration of our Red Tape Col I should be surprised and I also promised to try to get a furlough if I succeeded and I hope this will satisfy her. Steve also opposed it for what reason I cant see for he has always given me good advice before but in this case I think he must be wrong and shall try to write him right upon the subject in my next letter The candle fails and the hour is late so with many thanks for your kindness I will close Give my love to all
Yours truly
Charley Goodyear
Fort Scott Va. Sept 24th 63
Dear Sir,
I received your recommend last night certified to as worthy the fullest confidence by Gen Fremont[?] John T. Howard and J. W. Raymond. I was very much pleased with it, for it was so much stronger and backed by more influential names than I could reasonably have expected that I was astonished. To day I received your letter containing the letter of introduction to Maj Raymond and I think that I have enough help to make success sure. On the outside the envelope to the recommend was written, “If Mr Goodyear will appear in Washington at Gen Caseys Headquaters[sic] and enquire for Major Raymond on Gen Caseys Staff and Capt Howard, he will fiend friends who will advise with him”. ` From similarity in handwriting I think it was written by Mr. J. T Howard of Brooklyn . I labor under a difficulty in this matter which of course the man who wrote that was not acquainted with.[line ends in middle of page; page ends]
It is impossible to get a pass to Washington only one being granted a week to each Company of from 90[?] to 100 men. Not only that, but you must state your reasons for going and the Col not only does not approve of attempts to get promotion in Colored Regts but opposes it in every way in his power, and if he should once suspect that my object in asking for a pass to Washington was in relation to that matter I would never get a pass. This I had confidentially the Capt and the Leut who are both my friends and who favor my project. They advised that I write to Washington to Maj Raymond asking for a pass from there and then the Col could not stop it anyway,[?] because such passes come in the shape of an order for such a one to appear which the Col must obey. The Leut says that Col Abbots reason for opposing this thing is that if he Regt is reduced by[inserted above] a few by[inserted above] more men[inserted above] he will lose his berth, by the provisions of a law which state that when an Arty Regt is reduced to such anumber the Command will devolve upon the Leut Col. Taking the advice of the Capt and Leut I have written to Major Raymond enclosing your[page ends] letter of introduction as an explanation of my reasons for writing to him.
My recommend will be a sufficient second introduction when I go over. I shall probably hear from this letter in a few days. I am in no hurry for I have not posted up yet quite as wel as I would like to and two or three days will help me along some for all that we have so much duty to do that there is no time except nights and not always all of them. I have received Arithmetic so that I can pass on that and have I think studied the tactics sufficiently but as you stated that I understood Mathematics. I want to pass in case they should question me on Algebra and Geometry at least ― I want to answer some questions. There are several Officers in the Regt engaged in the same business with me and one of them a particular friend of mine formerly Orderly of our Company and the one who lived in the Shanty with me last winter and it is probable if I succeed that I may get into the same Regt with some of them and that would be pleasant to start upon among strangers. They as well as any of the rank and file who attempt to get promotions[page ends] are under the ham[??] of the Col. And work quietly. Father has been to Meriden and told my sister of the attempt I am making and she objects because she wants to have me come home in the spring and fears that I shall not stand it. I wrote that if I found any harder duty than every man does under the administration of our Red Tape Col I should be surprised and I also promised to try to get a furlough if I succeeded and I hope this will satisfy her. Steve also opposed it for what reason I cant see for he has always given me good advice before but in this case I think he must be wrong and shall try to write him right upon the subject in my next letter The candle fails and the hour is late so with many thanks for your kindness I will close Give my love to all
Yours truly
Charley Goodyear
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