Grimes Mill Maryland
Friday Eve Oct 10 1862
It is with the greatest pleasure imaginable that I seat myself to answer your gentle effusion of the 14th of August last. It was not received by me till day before yesterday. Having been nearly two months in reaching its destination I hope this will not be as long on the road as yours was. For if it should be, you would begin to think that Joe did not mean to write you again.
What kind of day and what have you been doing today Carrie? Perhaps you would like to know what kind of a day and what I have been doing today. I will tell you. It has been kind of a wet, drizzling day here and I have been laying around camp doing nothing except smoking my pipe. Just before night a little while I went over where they were butchering and got a small piece of liver and cooked a little for my supper. That’s all I’ve done today.
I reckon I have had as much as one ducking since I’ve been in the army. I got a little bit of one tonight while I was eating my supper and clearing off the dishes. There was an election of field officers for the regiment last night and they (the officers) had a gay old time of it I can assure you. The spirits were flowing quite freely when I came to the regiment which was about 10 o’clock p.m. Lieutenant Colonel Adams[2] was elected Colonel, Major Bodine[3] to Lieutenant Colonel and Captain (George G.) Wanzer[4] was elected Major.
The regiment has gone out on picket. They went out this morning and we are going to stay a couple days. I am afraid they are going to have a wet time of it. It is always just our luck though. I hear that Frink[5] and Ed have both nerved up courage enough to enlist after so long a time- well they might enlist. For just see what bounties they are paying those that are enlisting now, and a great many of them enlist just for the sake of the bounties which are offered them. When I enlisted there were no such inducements held out to us and those that enlisted then did so from pure patriotism. And now after we (the old regiments) have borne the brunt and heat of the day they are going to give these new troops all the honor of putting the rebellion down. That will never do us, you know.
You wrote that Tom[6] and his friend Mr. Loverage said they wouldn’t come till they were drafted. And that Mr. Southwick said he would cut off his finger if he thought they would draft him. All I have to say is I hope they will be the very ones that will have to come if there is any drafting and after they got down here I would like no better fun than to take such fellows and hold them before a cannon’s mouth. You may think I am very severe but its just as I feel about the matter. They have not got any reasonable excuse for not coming- if they had it would make a difference. All the reasons why they do not come is because they are big cowards to do so. Never mind I guess Uncle Abe can get men enough without them. They can stay at home and hang on dad’s pocket or be tied to mama’s apron strings a while longer yet. Let the darling little creatures stay where they are- we don’t want them down here for fear they might get in the way and get hurt. I guess though I have said enough.
I received a letter from my sister Thena[7] stating that if could look into the closet. I would think they meant to live for they have canned about seventy bottles of fruit. I reckon they do mean to live & after we go into winter quarters if we are where I can- I am going to tell them they had better send me down some of their goodies. What say you, don’t you think they’d better, Carrie?
I am getting awful sleepy for I was on guard last night from twelve until two which just broke up my sleep entirely. I wrote to Sate (Sadie?) A. yesterday.
There is one of the prettiest sights up where the regiments are camped that you ever saw, its just dark enough to have the lights show good.
Love to all- hoping to hear from you again soon. I remain your ever sincere friend
J.A. Braden
Slocum’s Division - Washington DC
[1] Caroline Wibert born in Mar 1844 in Galen, Wayne Co, NY to George M. & Julia A. Wibert
[2] Alexander D. Adams, Colonel of the second brigade 27th NY infantry regiment
[3] Joseph H. Bodine, Lt. Colonel 27th NY infantry regiment
[4] George G. Wanzer, Captain, Company ‘E’ 27th NY infantry regiment
[5] Charles Frink born about 1840 to Ephraim and Lucinda Frink of De Ruyter, NY
[6] Thomas Akenhead, Jr. born July 1838 to Thomas & Florinda Akenhead in Wayne County, NY
[7] I am guessing Thena is a nickname of Parthenia Braden born 9 April 1838 died 25 July 1905
[8] 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment