150 Years Ago (1864 9/12)

Clifton Farm, Va.

Sept. 12^th, 1864. 

Dearest Abiah,-

Here we are yet, only our regiment has been moved down nearer the river and are doing picket duty by themselves. Came here Saturday. Saw Zopher just before we came; the same morning.

Perhaps it will do to talk a little about that commission. I have not wanted to say much about it heretofore, but it is probably not very far off. I received a note from Major Foster’s office with regard to the chances of three of us. James Tinkham Capt. There were then ten that preceded him and 21 ahead of me and W. S. Myers he was second Lieut. There were 43 preceding him. Tinkham’s order for a discharge from the regiment came last Friday and he will leave the regiment. I shall not probably be many weeks behind; perhaps days. Of that I can tell nothing. Tinkham does not know where he is to go. Some are ordered to report to some particular place; others are not.

Now about coming home. I was in hopes that through the influence of Mr. Baxter [member of Congress] I might get home. I should have to pay my own expenses and it would delay my muster. Should draw no pay from my discharge here until I was mustered into the new regiment, but should try it if I could get time enough. Mr. Baxter, I suppose, will leave Washington tomorrow for Vermont. This is all I can say about this thing. If there is anything new shall let you know as soon as I can get a letter off. Our mail is very regular now, but I can probably get this off tonight, as the trains are then due, or rather the rations are.

The weather here is cool Fall weather; some hard rains. The Potomac is rising. The time for Earley to pass into Maryland has passed. He has tried it often enough; but has failed in every instance. Our lines extend from south of Berryville to Martinsburgh so as to prevent the Rebs from passing through Snicker’s Gap or even Ashby’s or cross the Potomac higher up. There is fighting every few days, or I might say hours, but we have not seen a reb, except prisoners, since we came here.

Have had a chance to get a new supply of apples; bushels are fried and stewed every day. The corn is getting rather hard. The boys are beginning to pound it and are making the old fashioned samp. War, war, ruin and desolation and here are men in our army that hanging is too good for. There are two men in this regiment that deserve as severe a punishment as man ever did. I could not hurt the men that I saw hanging them. There is once in a while a man caught pillaging and is punished, but the worst ones go so far out that they are not caught. There were two men brought in yesterday that were caught in the business. One of them belongs to this company but is detailed among the pioneers. They were coming along with their hands tied behind their backs and looked sheepish enough, but the great rascals are not caught. It is such things as entering houses and holding loaded pistols at the head of the women and making her produce the keys and ransacking the home from cellar to attic, and sometimes proceeding further with their insults to the females. Such is war. Our men will do it in Virginia and the rebs will do the same in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Corn and all kinds of grain are free plunder in Virginia, but when it comes to taking women’s underclothes or other things that are nearly good to cut or to waste from pure destructiveness, it is too bad to be tolerated. There is a man by the name of Holoway that belongs to this company now detailed in the division sharp shooters that if I should see the guerillas hanging I should say good and pass on.

I wrote to father about your coming to Derby or somewhere else away from East Charleston. I think it is best to get away from there as soon as possible. When I get a commission shall be able to hire a comfortable house in either place. Shall write to Mr. Lorin if you go to West Charleston and have him take special care of the boys. Hope to be able to do as we please but it is going to cost something for an outfit. If I leave the regiment at the end of the month shall have nearly sixty dollars coming to me. Have not got all arrearages yet that you need to fix up for Winter. It will cost about a hundred. Burdick, a young man from the 11^th that has lately got his commission wrote me that his expense was $121.00. he went to Vermont on a 10 days furlough and had to bear all his expenses. If I cannot get a chance to go home for a longer time than that, as I could not stop at home for more than three or four days and it might spoil my chance of getting home in the Winter. If I should be so fortunate as to get to any of the cities between here and home, shall expect to have you come and see me, as you can get the longest furlough. There is once in a while a man sent to New York; some are sent to Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina, generally 2^nd Lieut. but most are ordered to report to Kentucky and Tennessee. Do you think so little of me as to think that you or any number of men or women could get me over the line into Canada? The wealth of the world could not do that. When we were at Tenallytown there were several drafted men and one substitute. One of them owed me six dollars. If I can find out his post office shall take the pleasure of dunning him. I should hear from him if I remain here. He is in Canada. He was a man that no one would mistrust of deserting, but his patriotism was all in his legs. How many men there are that have plenty of patriotism in fair weather, but let their legs ache with a long march or their bellies get empty, or those at home, that get their pockets touched by the war and all their patriotism is knocked higher than a kite. The heart is the place to carry it. There no weariness, hunger, pecuniary loss, wounds, nor even death itself can affect it one bit. Yes, a man that cannot serve his country in the field deserves no protection at home.

I shall write to Ephraim today, if I can get time and try to fix some way to get my outfit. Hope I shall have a chance to draw some clothing before I am ordered to report to Washington, as I am destitute enough, but that makes but little difference here in an active campaign in the wood, mud, dirt and straw. I am comfortable enough, though the weather is cool, but not cold.

I yesterday saw one of the Jones boys from Wheelock. He belongs to this regiment. He is a pretty smart looking fellow. This is not as long as I expected to make it, but there is an inspection ordered, and I have got to get ready in a hurry. The inspection is the monthly one. The object of having it now is to see what clothing is wanted, as the weather is growing cooler. 

I shall write every mail if I am not on picket. The 4^th regiment is coming in to help us. We are receiving a few recruits. The Company is getting none. How light my feet would be if I had a furlough of thirty days. The thought brings my heart up to my mouth, but keep a good heart; shall come round sometime all right, and then we will enjoy life rich or poor, high or low; none shall be happier.

Yours affectionately,

Charles.