Letter from the 114th Regiment - October 1862

Letter from the 114th Regiment

Chenango American, October 23, 1862

On Special Duty
Baltimore, Oct. 20, 1862

Dear American:  The past two weeks have been of great interest, not only to the soldiers of the great Union army, but to the citizens of the States both North and South.  While the Free North, though mourning for the "lost in battle," have had occasion to rejoice over victories won and enemies put to flight, the South is wailing at its defeat and overt dissensions threaten to swell into open rupture.  It seems that Gov. Brown, of Georgia, repudiates the "Conscription act" of the rebel Confederacy, and refuses to furnish conscripts to swell the rebel rabble, and lo! Virginia is ready to rise up and overwhelm "the traitor in our midst."  Yet Jeff. Davis dare not enforce a single law that has been passed unless the overpowering arm of the military is handy to back him up, and he complacently overlooks the acts of the naughty Georgian. The Richmond papers are full of "sighs and tears," and communications swell every column calling on the "patriots at home," as well as the "lovely women of the South," to contribute something to cover the nakedness of "the brave defenders of their homes and liberties."  The fact is, dear American, we sometimes are almost constrained to send the beggars of our abundance, but the law withholdeth our gifts.

Our regiment still continues in camp where we were first ordered, although it is getting pretty well thinned out by drafts for guard duty.  Your correspondent "Steel Pen" was in error about the position of the different companies who were sent out on guard. Co. I, instead of guarding a bridge 8 miles from the city, are at Camden St. Hospital in this city.  Fifty men of Co. H, are at Marlboro, Prince George County, Md., assisting in drafting officers, instead of guarding a hospital. Co. F, instead of being at Prince George co., are occupying the mansion of the rebel General of Cavalry, Stuart, guarding convalescent Union soldiers. They are in one of the most beautiful spots around Baltimore.  It commands a view of the entire city, the bay, and the surrounding country; and I can not imagine what should possess a man to compel him to leave such a lovely place for the uncertain honors of a wicked conspiracy.  Since the letter of "Steel Pen" was written, Co. K, have been withdrawn from the regiment to guard the grounds and house which the Government occupy as a hospital, formerly belonging to --- McKim.  Co. E have also been taken to act as guard around the Baltimore and Washington and Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Depot. They also take charge of rebel prisoners that may have occasion to stop in the city for a few hours. They also have a very pleasant location.

I learn by letters from home that you have rainy and disagreeable weather, and I have wondered what it was that should make such a difference in climate in this part of the State, and, in fact, in Pennsylvania, as well as south of us, we have had but little rain for a month or six weeks --- not enough to make four days steady rain. The sun has shone bright and warm through the day, and at night, although somewhat cool, the moon and stars have made it pleasant for the sentinel.

Yesterday a trio of us had permission to be absent through the day, and a stroll out into the country was agreed upon.  We were surprised to see the leaves upon the trees so green, and as we passed the market gardens, still more surprised to see the gardeners "setting out" cabbage plants, sowing onion and beet seed, hoeing string beans and carrying on the work of June in our country.

"We soldiers" shall be glad when our "county papers" get through talking politics, so that you will be able to give us a little more "local news."  By the way your paper comes to the Soldier's Reading Room, and I assure you it is welcome, as would be the Oxford Times, Chenango Union, the Telegraph, and other papers in the vicinity where the 114th Regiment was recruited.  If you would call the attention of these papers to the fact that the loyal citizens of Baltimore have fitted up this room and furnished it with books, papers, magazines, lights, &c, and especially invite the Union soldier to come there and spend his leisure hours, free of charge, they would not hesitate to place upon their books the address "Baltimore Union Reading Rooms."

The "draft" has taken place in this State, and I learn that a large representation of the secession class have been "drawn in."  At any rate, here in the city, I have known one man to say if $2,000 would buy a substitute, he was ready to pay it. There has been no difficulty in this part of the State, so far as I can learn, and it is to be hoped, that, for the honor of the country, there will be no resistance shown.

There was very nearly a riot here on Friday afternoon. The telegrams and bulletins said that McClellan had been fighting and gained another important victory, and the offices of the evening papers were besieged by as excited a crowd as I ever saw.

Yours,   A.