Letter from the New York 114th Regiment
Chenango American, September 18, 1862
Camp Chenango
Baltimore, Sept. 11, 1862
Eds. American: If there is any thing in this wide world that is difficult to accomplish, it is to be a successful news paper correspondent. The subscriber feels that to please an intelligent class of readers, he must group together facts and fancies, so that they will harmonize with one another, and attract the attention of the reader as well by their truth as by the beauty of their composition, and to be as brief as the nature of the news will permit.
Sunday morning, Sept. 7th, was one that will be long remembered by thousands of tender hearts that were left weeping in old Chenango, on account of the sundering of the most holy ties that unite man and wife, fathers, mothers, sisters, and homes that have sheltered us. To them there will be long days of heart aches and sorrows--long nights that will be sleepless by reason of nervous thoughts and anxious watching---weeks, months, and perhaps years of painful waiting e'er they will behold the faces of those who have nobly given up all the comforts of home to aid in quelling a wicked rebellion that threatened to ruin the Government of a free people. To us the thought that we may have left them forever often comes to case a cloud of gloom upon us, but we know that if we died in battle with our faces toward the enemy, those who live after us will point with pride, if not with pleasure, at the soldier's grave.
It will not be necessary for me to relate all the ncidents of lesser note; but I will mention that on Monday we had a short and beautiful reception speech, from Hon. Daniel S. Dickinson, in behalf of the soldiers and citizens of Binghamton, after which we took cars for Elmira. On our way to the latter place, one of the baggage cars containing tents and other camp equipments took fire from the heat caused by the friction of the axleties, but there was no damage done except to the woodwork of the car. We arrived at Elmira about five o'clock P.M. and were immediately reshipped for Baltimore on the Elmira and Williamsport R R. Before we reached Williamsport we heard that the ladies of that place had made provision to give each soldier a pie, but on arriving there, we were hurried through by a dispatch, much to the chagrin of the boys and mortification of the ladies. One of the Pennsylvania girls censored herself, however, with the remark that--"Some other regiment will get them, anyhow!"
About daybreak, and before we reached Harrisburg, we were startled by a report that the rebels were within 20 miles of that place, and that we would be required to stop there to aid in defending the city, but we passed by without even stopping, and in just twenty-four hours from the time we left Binghamton, we were in Baltimore.
The city seems very orderly and quiet, and well they may, for there are soldiers enough quartered her to sack and burn it. Tues. morning we heard the firing of heavy guns at Fort Federal, and upon inquiry we were told that it was in honor of the capture of "Stonewall" Jackson, and a portion of his command. Another report, which is probably nearer the truth; that it was a salute to the Massachusetts 6th, who were so outrageously treated by the Baltimoreans over a year ago, who passed through here this morning, for the seat of war. It is commanded, with but few exceptions, by the same officers that held commissions at that time.
Our regiment is in good health, and we have one of the best locations for a camp that could be secured about the city. It is very high ground with a sharp slope toward the south, sufficient to have the rain carry off all the fifth that may collect about the tents, and where the breeze from either point of the compass will strike us; it is also in the midst of a beautiful grove of oaks, and you may believe that the tired soldier is grateful to the cooling shade as he rests from the tedious drill.
I have already filled more space, I fear, than you can spare me, so I will close, still remaining,
Your obedient servant, A.
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