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Camp
Owen, Randolph Co Va
August
30 1861
Dear Sister
I
received your letter a day or two ago. I would have written sooner but I had no
opportunity to do so for I was out with the Company on advanced picket guard so
that I had no chance to write until I came in yesterday on account of a cold
that I caught while out. When I got here and got my dinner an order was given
for every one that could carry a gun should march back to the Company for they
were advancing on the enemies pickets. Well I started with the rest of them
(gun on shoulder) but had gone but two miles when we met them (our men )coming
back with the news that one of our men was killed and two wounded but not
fatally. I suppose that we will attack the enemy in a day or two. I do not
think that the enemy have not got so many men in their camp as the papers say
for we have four spies, one of them was in their camp and the others have seen
into it and they say that there is not over 5 or 7 Regiments there and we have
8 Regiments to march in with. Now I will tell you some news that no one but Ma
and Pa must hear for it is best not to tell it on my account. Harry Crist has
been writing to the Captain with regard to getting into this Company in the
place of a surgeon that has been discharged, Owen is his name, Pa knows. Jo
Macy was at the Captain’s office last night when he told him that Harry could
have the place if he would bring enough men along so that he could discharge
some men that he mentioned and my name was among them. Now I expect that Harry
will soon be getting some men for the Captain. Wrote to him this morning. Now
tell Pa to do all he can to help Harry tell the people that there is not a man
in this Company but what likes their Company officers (this is true). The
Adjutant of our Regiment has resigned and gone home with two Lieutenants, and
the Lieutenant Colonel they say is going to resign (I don’t know whether this
is true or not) Frank Miller has been discharged. He will be home in a few
days. I have not got the things you sent me, for the Captain has not got the
box yet. I suppose that it will soon be here. The socks and yarn and thread,
handkerchiefs and everything will come handy with me. You told me that if I
should get hurt or taken prisoner that I should make arrangements to let you
know it by telegraph (I have done so). The weather has been so bad that about
one third of the men are on the sick list. I do not know how soon we will leave
her but perhaps soon. The men were all glad to hear that the peace makers
meeting was stopped.
We
have 17 cannons here and are to have that many more. We have besides the
cannons, 4 howitzers that are as good in a battle as a large cannon. I have got
but half a paper yet from home. The others say that it is the same with them.
It
is very dangerous to be out here from camp for several of our men have been
shot while out. I have been out often after berries (of which there is an
abundance) but I intend to stay in after this for it is positively dangerous
for even our own men might shoot us each other thew mistake. Tell all them
tories that they had better be careful for they might get shot. I know that
such men will not be allowed to live in little Union (at least I hope so). I am
well with the exception of a slight cold, which I will soon get over. There is
not a Dr in the Regiment that is worth anything. If you send anything more send
a box of Spaldings pills for they are good and every soldier should supply
himself with them. The three month talk is still increasing here. All believe
it but the Colonel and Captain Bennett and they pretend to not believe it. Some
say the officers have no commission for longer than 3 months. This seems to be
so for some officers are resigning without any reason. I have lost my testament
but the Chaplain says he will have some here soon then I shall have one. I will
put this letter in one of the envelopes that are already directed for I have no
ink and pen handy and have no time to hunt for any. Write soon. Bless all for
me. I get my picture taken as soon as I get an opportunity, which may happen
soon if we should move from here we might get where there is an operator. Give
my love to all. Excuse bad writing and spelling. Your affectionate brother
Luther Beaver
6 comments:
It takes a steady hand to write like that. I have some similiar-in-style surviving writings from my Father's Father who was a self-employed black-smith but also pin-striped cars which (especially in those days) took a VERY steady hand. Such penmanship today is a lost art--sort of like Myan or Egyptian heiroglyphics.
"Mayan" Yikes!
I enjoy these posts immensely, Curtis. And what Virgil said about the penmanship.
(Apropos o' nothing... the schools still taught penmanship when I was in grade school, and I never got anything higher than a C-.)
I once had a steady hand but I never had the penmanship. The nuns found me quite the disappointment. I had 3 hands back when I wrote longhand; round, slant left, slant right. None of them were elegant.
I was motivated to look up Spaldings Pills and found this article that was published on April 4, 1861 in the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/1861/04/04/news/cephalic-pills-cure-sick-headache-cephalic-pills-cure-nervous-headache-cephalic.html
Do you think these are what Luther was referring to?
Why yes! That's amazing.
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