DecaturAlabama
August 27th 1864
Dearest Parents,
It is Saturday night and a most delightful evening. I have been settling up with the Company Clothing Book, and have got it finished at last, very nearly to my own satisfaction. I fancy the books better than it did last year – I think the accounts with each man for clothing are balanced in a more workmanlike manner. Now I have got to make a Monthly Return of Camp and Garrison Equipage to the War Dept. which will take a few hours – half a day, and then the Muster and Pay Rolls, before Sept. And that reminds me that my birthday will very soon be here – how fast the years go! Why I have almost forgotten how old I am – shall I have to go to the ‘Co. Descriptive Book’ in the absence of a ‘family Record’? I guess I’ll let it go at 25 – which is enough years certainly for one to commit, who can show no more wisdom than my poor brain does. But how wonderfully I have been spared! – scarcely a sick day in all this 25th year, or rather 24th year of my life! And in the army too – in time of such universal civil war! How ungrateful were I not to render God most hearty homage and praise – tho most weak in comparison to what I have received at his (sic) hands! It continutes to be rather unhealthy here, and it seems difficult for those to recruit who fall sick. Fletcher Hyde (probably Emmons F. Hyde. See page 50) has recovered from the Small Pox and will very soon return to the Co. if he has no more “pulls back” as we say. I sent him what reading matter I had the other day. But I do not expect he will do much duty in the Company till fall or winter. He is young and growing fast and it will require some time for such to become thoroughly acclimated and accustomed to soldier’s rations and hardships. I think most of the boys feel better – less of that lassitude and worn manner than a few weeks since. They are gaming more, and the laugh and joke abound more freely. Gove is pretty low – ie. – weak – and poor, though he is about and does not seem in very much pain, and so soon as he can stop the diarrhea, will get up. Harvey Upton is still in the Hospital here, and Oren at Nashville. Warren has got the Jaundice but has been doing duty until today. SeymourMain (Seymour H. Main. Enlisted in company I, Eighteenth Infantry, Jan. 4, 1864, at Medina, for 3 years, age 22. Mustered Jan. 12, 1864. Joined regiment at Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 25, 1864. Missing in action at Athens, Ala., Sept. 24, 1864. Killed in explosion of steamer “Sultana” near Memphis, Tenn., April 27, 1865. Buried in NationalCemetery at Memphis, Tenn. Grave No. 4129) & Harvey are well. Henry Foster (Henry C. Foster, LenaweeCounty. Enlisted in company I, Eighteenth Infantry, Jan. 4, 1864, at Medina, for 3 years, age 27. Mustered Jan. 12, 1864. Joined regiment at Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 25, 1864. Died at Athens, Ala., Oct. 3, 1864, of wounds received in action Sept. 24, 1864) is not well or much sick. Frank Drown (Frank B. Drown. See pages 32, 33) is doing duty, also W. H. Hawkins (William H. Hawkins. See page 43), Shafer (Delascus B. Shafer. See page 84), Hampton (probably Frank Hampton. See page 42), McClellan (Thomas J. McClellan. See page 62), Babcock (there were three men with the last name of Babcock in the Eighteenth Regiment. See page 6) and Newman (William B. Newman. See page 68) got here yesterday. I got a letter from Lt. James (?) tonight with the ring enclosed. It is a very pretty one, but too small for me. I will keep it for a time at least, but think I had better send it home if I have an opportunity. Milo Bovee (has brother in company A and a brother C. Milo Bovee, Dover. Enlisted in company I, Eighteenth Infantry, Aug. 11, 1862, at Dover, for 3 years, age 24. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862. Taken prisoner at Athens, Ala., Sept. 24, 1864. Discharged at Camp Chase, Ohio, June 10, 1865) got a paper from home containing Horace’s letter etc. I am proud that such justice is done him and only wish I could have written something more worthy to his memory. It seems almost like visiting home to see the Examiner. Anna seems to feel deeply the loss of our brother and sister and wishes she could but return to you to make up in some degree for the places forever vacant. And Ettie is a mother! – How much dignity does it give Rallie and Geo. to think themselves as uncles? Of course Will cannot got to war and leave his girl – well I’m rather glad he has got a substitute for though he would be a jolly soldier so long as he was contented. I fear he would get homesick sometimes, and then he would be pretty sure to get sick. But it is pretty expensive soldiering at home -- $750 is more than I shall be likely ever to give a man to filly my place in the army. Do any enlist from the town? And how many are likely to be drafted? Has Drake found anybody to get him a Substitute? What does Albert Salisbury say? – and Cole and Sol Rosa and Cyrus Barley – and Geo. Flesamer (?) and Clark? I suppose some of them will enlist in those companies for the Fourth Regt. Wouldn’t I like to be there on the 5th of Sept.? All the way to Chattanooga and back. I found agents trying to obtain recruits from nearly all the states and I saw but one or two who found any. I was gone four days to C. and saw rather rough times it being horrid rainy and muddy, otherwise I would have gone on to Marietta just to see the country tho I found out all about Southworth at C. He is recruiting under authority from Gen. Thomas and is likely to succeed. He is at Marietta, Ga. Wheeler is said to be ‘cavorting’ about in this Dept., also Roddy and others not far from here but I rather think more to concentrate and dash on the road somewhere above or below than to molest us here. It would require considerable force and cost dearly to take the post if we were to fight as we ought. A commission for Lt. Adams (probably Seymour H. Adams, Scipio. See page 3) Co. G. has been sent for and I presume he will be assigned to Co. I in a few days. I rather expected to have been detailed to go on picket tomorrow but am not. Every fourth to sixth day I am on the line 24 hours. The part of the line we have now is about a mile from camp and of course I have to carry out blankets, shelter, tent and rations. I usually have Harry bring them to me. The hardest part of it is to keep awake half the night – no light – no noise – except low conversation. What do you think we have to give for eggs? Only 60 cents per day -- $4.00 to $6.00 per bin for potatoes if you can get them at all which is very difficult. Butter, just what the people choose to ask tho sometimes, when we can exchange other produce – Sugar, Coffee, etc., we get it quite reasonable. Often we have neither vegetables or butter. Yet I am fleshy – weight 150 lbs. The weather is quite fine – not exceedingly hot and a breeze almost all the time. Lt. James said nothing about the things you sent. I presume he will keep them. He wished one to send him the paper containing the notice of Horace’s death, and hoped I would find him and call on him if I ever should be near him. Do not hurry yourself in the least in regard to the Towels and Shirts. Cap left me a Towel, a pack of cards, etc., etc. I hope to hear from him this week -- ____ it is gone – next week at least. I am very much interested in the house. Is Mr. Force building? Was not the crop of wheat very small? I believe Harry had half. So he has gone to Hingland! (?) to return no more. What a losss to America – how sad for the American people! Has pa sold all his wheat? And does he want I should send him all the money I can next pay day? I cannot understand how a young many can pay all their hard earned wages to keep out of the Army when they feign to believe the cause holy and just – where they acknowledge to be as much indebted to their Govt. as anybody. When they know posterity will ask – “have you or was your father in the great National Struggle?” I cannot understand it.
My love to dear good Ettie and may her daughter grow up under the guidance to be an honor and a course of happiness ever returning to both the parents.
With much love, I remain affectionately
Charlie
Message written on top margin of letter:
Does ‘Old Charlie’ think I was too bad for souring on Drakes Substitute business? I do not wish to get the ill will of any, but I really feel indignant when healthy strong young men offer me gold to aid them in depriving God of their services in such a cause.
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