Fort Riley, Kan April 30th 1862
Dear Sister Jerusha;
I received your kind little
note enclosed with Geo. M.'s and I will improve my first opportunity to
thank you for it and I will take a big sheet for it. I received some good
kind letters form Mother and L. A. last night and the bundle of papers
that Geo M. spoke of two or three weeks ago. The were very thankfully rec'd
by boys in the Hosp. And Co. particularly one of C. P. that broke his leg
last night wrestling. One of Co. B. broke his leg at Lawrence, play ball,
and one of the same Co. broke his leg by scuffling at Fort Scott. We left
15 at Lawrence and we learned a day or two ago that they were all getting
better. Cracker was the lowest of any and he is improving. Edwin Robinson
joined us day before yesterday. He came from Ft. Worth with a Co. of the
8th Kan. That came here to garrison this post which is commanded by Maj.
Wallin of the Regular Army. Robinson has got entirely well.
I was in Col. Poole's
tent this P.M. informing him of the sickness of Jimmy Stewart's and he
said he had heard of it from his Mother at Madison. Poole says no one here
knows yet whether we will go to New Mexico or not, or where we will go.
He thinks it would be quite a desirable trip. He thinks we should no stop
long, but would probably go down thru Texas to the coast and would probably
be out of the service as soon as any. It certainly is very interesting
to me to see this new country and the last 40 or 40 miles we came over
coming from L. was the most pleasant and desirable country I ever was in.
It was well watered and that only [? luck] seemed to be wood which is only
found along the steams. The last 20 miles is more particularly characterized
by bluffs which are the extent of our vision where before only the same
rolling prairie greeted the eye. The bluffs are all bare and they all show
a strata of rock formation mostly lime stone, about the same distance from
the near to top.
The three Commissioners
form Wis., Mr. E. D. Holton, John Stewart and Fraser have been here for
the last few days with the Allotmest Rolls and they have gathered some
fine specimens among which is a horned toad which is a singular looking
animal. It has almost every color and they are very bright. Its sides are
well armored with horns which it can lay back against the sides. I think
it must be some of St. Patrick's getting up for it is said that its chief
end is to present itself an attractive morsel to a snake and after he is
swallowed, spread its hors and cut open the sides of the snake and thus
destroy him.
I have allowed $10.00
of my monthly pay which will make $20.00 every payday, to Lucy Ann and
she can do what she has a mind to with it. It will not affect the present
payment because there was not time to carry it out.
Our Co. has signed or
allotted about $1000.00 per month. I think it will prove a great benefit
both to the soldiers and the friends at home fore I know a good many instances
in the Reg. of soldiers allotting a great share of their pay to their families
that are much in need of it and they realize it when they are sober, but
after they get their pay in their hands they live upon it until it is gone.
Mr. Holton addressed our Reg. last Sunday eve, which was quite interesting
to us. He spoke very feelingly of the death of Gov. Harvey, they were intimate
friends.
If 8th N. Y. Cav. is
disbanded, I do hope he will go home and stay until I get home. I wonder
why he don't write to me and Chester too, he has never condescended to
answer my letter yet. Your inquire if I get the newspapers, all we get
is the Leavenworth papers with the telegraph reports which is only the
skeleton of the news, but in those bundles of papers that come form home,
I get a pretty good idea of what is going on.
I find it is harder for
me to be in camp with the Co. than it was before I went into the Hosp.
I had much rather be at work all the time. I feel so much better. I have
endured the work in the Hosp. better than most of the nurses, for I am
the only one that has not been down sick, that was in as long as I, but
if I had remained in the Hosp. A few days longer about the time we left
Lawrence, I should probably have been down, for I was the nearest to being
sick that I have been since I left home. I had been broken of my rest for
three of four night so that did not get but about 3 1/2 hours sleep in
the 24 and was very [? billoius] with all, but I kept moving about (for
it, I stopped and laid down, I grew sicker very fast) and the night before
we started, I slept in the morning and start with the Co. and keep my place
in the rank till we camped at Big Springs 16 miles form L. and the next
morning I felt much better and when we got here. I was as tough as the
best of them. An idea has just struck me and that is sending home one of
the cactus that I spoke of, by mail. I will see how well I can do them
up. I should be very much pleased to get one home and have it live, they
grow on a very dry soil so would not suffer for moisture.
We have Co. drill form
ten till eleven A. M. and battalion drill from 3 to 5 P. M. and dress parade
after. Our pay rolls are being made out but we don't know when the Paymaster
will be here. I do feel very grateful to Mr. Tiffiny for his kindness and
hope I may be able return his kindness sometime, ether to him on somebody
else. I will write to him. Capt. Vanderpoole heard last night of the sever
illness of his wife. He says if she is worse by the next letter, he shall
go to her at once. I am glad to learn that Coz Magia is better. Remember
me to her and Olive and Mill & all the rest. Much love to all, from
your aff. Bro.
Glyde
Also written on top:
If the illustrated papers were all sewed together as some of them are they would last longer. I have to distribute them the first thing and those that are loose get separated and lost.
Camp rear of Vicksburg
June 22nd 1863
Dearest Mother
I rec'd the bundle by
Freer a week ago today and I was tremendously tickled, it was quite a windfall
to me. It was a long time since I had heard from home. The picture of the
house looks as natural as the original. The handkerchief is a nice one,
much better than the apron. I am sorry you could not see Mr. Gaddis or
some of the furlough men. I have not heard anything of any more going home.
I believe they only give us twenty days now. I presume after Vicksburg
is taken, there will be more given. I guess you know as much about when
Vicksburg will fall as we do. We hear the same story now that we heard
when we first came here, that the Rebs cannot hold out more than a week
longer, that the rations are played out &c. &c. Deserters come
out about every night, one came last night. He says that they issued flour
to their troops for the first time since the siege commenced yesterday.
He thinks they are reduced to their last supply.
We are having considerable
duty to do now. We come on picket every other night. The duty is quite
different form any we have ever had before we go into the rifle pits and
play sharp shooter wit the rebels, but by our continuos firing we keep
the rebs down so they dare not show their heads. If one ventures a shot
there will be a dozen or fifteen shots from our men to where his smoke
rises.
We are in no particular
danger if we are cautious about keeping behind our breastworks
The face of the country
is about as much broken as it can be. It is made up of a succession of
ravines and ridges. The picket line is along one of these ravines, the
rebs one side and we the other. The forts are on the tops of these ridges
and the rifles pits are in advance of them on every favorable position,
where cover is necessary to get to the pits, trenches are dug to walk in.
Deserters say that the Mo., Tenn. & Georgia troops in Vicksburg are
anxious to surrender and when they are put on guard they have to put guards
over them to keep them from deserting. When we are on picket we have chats
with the rebs across the hollow. They seem to be very will to talk. Our
Regt has had on killed, Milley of Co. "A." and two wounded [? wis] 2nd
Lieut. Bird of Co. "G." and private Games Simons of Co. "B.", both flesh
wounds, not serious, on of Co. "K." was wounded in the side by exposing
himself when not on duty, he is recovering. Our Div is second one from
the left of the line. Gen. Herron's Div. being on the extreme left. The
line on the left is not as close to the rebel works as they are on the
right of the line. The picket on Gen. Logan's Div are close up to the rebel
forts so the rebs there cannot put their heads about their works at all.
The 1st is Batt. are
about two miles to the right of us. I have been to see the Hackett boys
several times, and enjoyed myself very much. Eph is 2nd Lieut. and is very
popular with his boys, they are well and tough. I visited the 23rd and
saw Joe Savage and Sam Webster. They are both wee. I am very glad you are
able to ride to Baraboo. Have you got an easy riding wagon? I am glad that
Eugene is such a faithful boy. I wish I could send him something. It is
a good deal of comfort to me to know that there is someone at home to help
Father do the chores. I am sorry to learn that Farther does feel as stout
as last summer. I hope he will be very careful of his strength, but I know
that as long as there is anything to do and he will always find enough,
he will keep [?bliging]. I think he must enjoy it very much to be able
to buy some new clothes. I wish I could afford to pay his expenses down
here so that he could see his large army and the county down this way.
It happens I am not on guard today. There was a detail of only 27 men a
segt. And two Corps so they did not take me. They are on picket in the
rear about three miles out. Our duty here is pretty had but I will only
be so until Vicksburg is taken. I have got over the ague so I am tough
again. The weather has been cooler since we left Grand Gulf and the lies
are now here to what they were there. I think it is more pretty here than
at the Gulf. I think we have got acclimated so that we should endure the
climate pretty well, in regard to the dangers of our position. We are only
subject to occasional shots form which we are protected by our breastworks,
but I feel that we are in the care of the same one that now watched over
us from the first and hope I may be always ready for any event of his providence.
A call was made a few
days ago by the chief Engineer of the Div for civil engineers in all the
Regts of the Div, and Col. Bryant having heard that I had worded at the
business, sent me to report to him a Div. Head Quar. He said he was going
to survey the country occupied by our army and he should probably want
me as soon as his interments come. He took my address and said he would
send for me when he wanted me.
I was all the one that
had reported then. I am not sure whether he will send for me or not and
am not very particular either way. We drew some potatoes yesterday form
the Sanitary Com. For the first time, they tasted better to me than my
pie I ever eat at home. They were real by a treat to. Justy Freer spoke
of this visit with Father, he sends his respects to him. I will write to
Lect next time and thank him for such a good long letter of particulars,
they are just what I want to know. I can realize as much better how things
look at home and what change there is.
I imagine Geo. Had a
fine time and a good visit all round. Just what he deserved. I hope he
or some of you will write me about his trip. I think the best way to direct
to me will be to Co. E. 12th Reg., Gen. Laumans Div., Cairo, Ill.
I should Dudley's folks
would feel only so far away from friends. I guess I will write to them.
I wish you could see the splendid magnolia grove that are here. They are
beautiful. I wish Geo. or someone would send me papers occasionally, all
we see now are what are sent tot he boys.
Very much love to all
the loved ones at home and a whole army corps of love to you, dear Mother
From your aff. Boy
Glyde
More Comming
From the Wisconsin Historical Society
AUTHOR Swain, Samuel Glyde.
TITLE Papers, 1861-1868, 1884.
Box 1-2 : MAD 4 /16/C4
Micro 472 (1 reel) : MAD 1V/Mss Box 145
CALL NO. Micro 472
Wis Mss 69S
