Camp Clara near Alexandria, VA
February 1, 1862
Saturday morning
Dear Carrie[1]
I received your ever welcome letter yesterday and it was perused with such pleasure I can assure you. I am going to take lessons in writing first commenced this morning. I wrote one line through and it looked so like the old scratch that I threw it one side and concluded I would answer your letter. That was a good idea, was it not, Carrie? Methinks I hear you say, “yes”.
One of our boys, Tip Belden[2], who had been home to Lyons on furlough returned to camp yesterday. He brought me a letter from Will McMath[3] he is well and stirring around as usual. He thinks some of going into the Army as hospital steward. Will sent me his photograph- is about as large as John Benson’s- the one you have got in the nut shell. Ask Sarah Ann how John Benson gets along nowadays. I wrote to Rand[4] two or three weeks ago and as I was short of stamps just at that time I put it in a franked envelope. I presume she did not receive it as you did not mention the happening of such an event. In your next I would like to have you state whether she received it or not. If she hasn’t, I will have to write her another one.
Well Carrie, January 1862 has passed but January 32nd did not come so we will have to give up all hopes of ever seeing it. I received a letter from Tom[5] in which he related his Christmas adventures- I would like to have been there to have helped him. From all accounts you young people must be having a gay time up there this winter. Why couldn’t it have been last so that I could have helped you some. Never mind, perhaps I may yet have the privilege of having some good times in old Junius yet. I am pretty sure I will if my life is spared. I am going to sow all my ‘wild oats’ while I am here in the Army so that when I return home I am going to settle down and be a steady boy. Get me a nice little farm and keep ‘bachelor’s hall’ and live at my ease. Won’t that be grand?
The mail has just come and who do you think I received a letter from? Well it was from Fannie[6]. it was written the same day yours was. She told me all about the good times you were having up there. She thought I kept pretty still this winter as she did not see me out to any of the nite Societies. I guess if she could be down here and see me wading around in the mud she would think I was stirring considerable for a small boy. I will have to postpone writing a little while first- long enough to get my dinner. I am going to cook it myself. I am going to have some fried hog and chum chum.
I have cooked and eaten my dinner and now I will try and finish my letter. Carrie it don’t seem hardly possible that while you are having good winter weather and sleighing we are having nothing but rain and mud. The mud down here is about as deep as the snow up there. So you can imagine what nice times we have playing in it. I don’t go out of my tent scarcely, only to get my rations, once in a while to go visiting but it is very seldom.
Wiley wrote on the back of your letter ‘Son, the goose hangs low’. You tell him the next time you see him that if he don’t answer my letter pretty soon “the goose will hang low!”
Carrie I would like to have Rand’s and your pictures if you do not think me too presumptuous in asking for them. You know I was always a great hand for pictures. If you will please send me them I will look on them every day. I have four or five but they are all young gentlemen and I want some of the other kind so as to have a variety. I am going to ask Fannie for hers when I answer her letter which will probably be tomorrow.
I presume you hear all the war news that you want to hear so I will not write any. I am well and getting as fat as a pig. Where is Frink[7] now? I haven’t heard anything about him in a long, long time. I hear from Ed Gridley quite often. I have not been over to Washington yet to see Henry[8] & Linc and I don’t believe I can get a pass to go over now for they will not allow us to visit other regiments and those from other regiments are not allowed to come in to see us. It is reported they have got the Small Pox in some of the other regiments around here how true it is I cannot say.
Carrie don’t you think I need to take lessons in writing by the looks of this letter? I do if you don’t. I suppose you think that is a novel idea- taking writing lessons in the Army. I suppose you intend to attend the nite at Mr. Abels do you not? Just play I am there will you and if you see any of my acquaintances there give them my best “pair of specks.” We very often play we are at such a place. With much love to all of your people, yourself included I remain ever yours,
Joe A. Braden[9]
P.S. Write soon. How did you and Rand succeed in getting up your club for Peterson’s Magazine?
[1] Carrie (Caroline) Wibert born in Mar 1844 in Galen, Wayne Co, NY to George M. & Julia A. Wibert
[2] I believe this is George M Belden born about 1840 son of Walter & Cornelia Belden, Lyons, NY
[3] Will McMath b Aug 4 1838 mustered in 1862 discharged 1864 with disablility. He was the son of Michael McMath & Elizabeth Akenhead
[4] Rand refers to Carrie’s sister Erranda Wibert born 4 Nov 1846 in Galen died 2 Mar 1932
[5] Thomas Akenhead, Jr. born July 1838 to Thomas & Florinda Akenhead in Wayne County, NY
[6] Fannie likely refers to Fannie Backman, sister of Henry born abt 1839
[7] Probably Charles Frink born about 1840 to Ephraim and Lucinda Frink of De Ruyter, NY
[8] Likely Henry Backman born about 1831 in Wayne Co, NY to Abram & Catherine Backman
[9] Joseph Alonzo Braden born 11 July 1840 in Seneca Co, NY to Louis & Electa (Moore) Braden. He became a infantryman in the Union service 30 April 1861 in Co. D, 27th Regiment, NY Volunteers under Colonel Slocum. His command was assigned to the Army of the Potomac and participated in the First Battle of Bull Run (First Manassas) and in all the engagements of the McClellan campaign. He emerged from his period of service unscathed and was discharged in June 1863. On 23 March, 1864 he married Lucy Angel born 20 March 1845 in Galen, Wayne Co, NY.
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