Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, March 9, 1864
U.S. Army Marine Hospital, New Orleans, La., Feb. 18 [1864]
As I write, the air is filled with fleecy snow flakes, which, at this season of the year, or any other in New Orleans, has rarely been witnessed by the "oldest inhabitant." For many years, at least, I am informed, the like has not been seen. Many people here had formed the idea that snow was black, as all negroes are called "Snowball;" but being assured by persons from northern latitudes that it really was snow, soon ceased to cavil at the reality or dispute the fact. Others judged that the clerk of the weather had filled his pepper box with salt, and hence this unseasonable and unusual visitation. At any rate, it came so plentifully, that by dint of lively scraping considerable sized snow balls were gathered form the steps and from the floors of the galleries about the buildings, with with sundry patients and individuals made ineffectual attempts to pelt each other in the face and eyes.
A lady in the institution, who had evidently seen one of the great elements of nature in like form before, and knew at least something of the uses to which it might be applied, gave the visage of your humble servant, as a reminder, I suppose, an effectual rubbing, which made the cheeks tingle, and brought the blush, but whether the glowing effect was from the application of the "snowy flakes," or the blush of modesty and bashfulness, from near proximity to the "tender sex," which is an occurrence equally rare, deponent saith not.
As I am simply producing, on the spur of the moment, a weather item rather than a newsletter of special interest and importance, I cannot do better perhaps than quote or reproduce a paragraph or two from an article on "Winter, North and South," which appeared a few weeks since in a Southern print, and which you can reprint or not, as suits you best. As winter, at the north, will not be entirely over ere this reaches its destination, the representation may not be entirely out of time or place.
After describing or alluding to the effect and appearance of a northern winter, "bristling with icicles and white with frost," and picturing snow banks which lie, "like a silence deep and white," in fields, in the highway, in city and in town, placing an embargo alike upon car and sleigh travel destroying the irregularity of the mails, &c, an "the snow still fluttering down."
The 29th and 30th Maine infantry (veterans) with other infantry recruits, have recently arrived in this department; also the 1st Delaware, the 2d Connecticut, and the 7th Massachusetts Batteries. Active operations are on foot. A portion of the Federal troops have been withdrawn from Texas, and Mobile, probably, will be the next place of attack. An expedition, it is believed, is likewise being fitted out for the Red River country.
Gentlemen brim full of patriotism, from Northern and Eastern cities, with their pockets well lined with greenbacks, as is necessary and highly proper for the purposes of doing good, are rapidly pouring into the "Crescent City." These men surely are not the fomenters or abettors of this bloody strife for the attainment of political ends, nor are they here for the purpose of conquest or cotton. Of course, they do not come to speculate, and certainly, persons so highly respectable in character, will not steal. or join hands with that terrible King Cotton or raise Cane!
If they cultivate at all the acquaintance of this formidable King, it will be with the laudable object of despoiling him of his locks and appeasing his wrath. Like most other good people, they do not like the smell of powder, else their love of country, which is great, would irresistibly impel them, in all advances, to lead the van. Sometimes, even in the face of imminent danger, they send their emissaries, or rather missionaries, to posts of peril, as advance guards, carefully to remove or protect all valuable property, of whatever kind, that might possibly afford "aid or comfort" to the enemy, or by any means fall into the hands of desperate Federal soldiers, or irresponsible Union men. Discretion being the better art of valor, and that their valuable services and disinterested lives may be spared to the country and the cause they love so well, they generally deem it prudent to keep their precious persons well to the rear.
The Free State party, or parties, as there are two of them, upon the supposition, I suppose, that there cannot be too much or too many of a good thing, hold an election for State officers within a few days. The Conservative Union party also have a ticket. The "iron-clad" oath, as it is termed, prescribed in the Presidents proclamation, in addition to the oath of allegiance, as a test of the qualification of a voter, being distasteful to a considerable number, will have the effect, it is feared, of keeping many really Union men from the polls. Of the result you will in due time be informed.
As to the trip into the country which I was on the point of making in my last, I will add it was highly satisfactory, most delightful! We made a drive of some 30 miles up the coast, visited several plantations containing from 500 to one and two thousand slaves.
In regard to the operations of the "free Labor" system, some thought it would prove a complete success, all that could be desired, while others, particularly old planters, appeared to think it could not be made to work, especially in their hands.
This in many respects is indeed a beautiful section of country. The sun never shone upon a richer soil, and fruits and flowers more exuberant and of superior richness and beauty, rarely grow. How foolish, even to madness, to leave such homes surrounded by all the comforts, luxuries and elegancies conducive to a happy and prosperous life, to be occupied by foreigners, and their lands overrun by the feet of strangers, to follow the fortunes of war, either to dissolve, the Union, or try to make it better than it was.
Much to my surprise, but none the less gratifying, I have received a call from D. Homer Newton, of Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY], lately appointed Asst. Surgeon of the 131st N.Y. He recently joined the Regiment of Brashear, and came down to the city to be mustered into service.
I read with pain of the death of Dr. Blin Harris, as I did of my esteemed friend Dr. Baker. Two worthy citizens and distinguished members of the profession, at home, with but a brief interval intervening, have passed away. Whether at home or abroad, whether enjoying the pursuits of peace in the midst of families and friends, or where the battle most does rage, thus we go! Such is life.
Surgeon, Harrison Beecher of the 114th NY.
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[Weather item from Southern print]
"Southern readers will not see much comfort or poetry in this state of things. Their thin blood recoils from the surface at such wintry suggestions. Not so with the men of the North who are here. At home it may be they will sigh their dread of the coming winter, and their longings for the 'more congenial' clime of the South. They come down here and discover even in the winter breezes of the South, 'an eager and a nipping air,' calling for fires, overcoats and gloves. Surprised to find some of the essential concomitants of winter, they miss that grand redeeming feature, the sleighing, which renders the season at the north the gayest and happiest of the year. Their longings are reversed. They sign for frost, pictures on the windows, for sleigh bells, for snowballs, for a swift gliding cutter--in short, for a full-blooded winter, such as only the north produces in its completeness. Evan a snow blockade is not without its redeeming qualities. There is much exhilaration in the recollections of the 'breaking out' teams, which every morning after a storm, used to plow through the highway and byways of 'our district' so that the children could get to school, and the farmers to the mill and store. Nothing prettier, in its way, than snow shoveling, or the feathery waves thrown up on either side of the road as the cross-bar plows the snow in front of the sled, freighted with noisy, rosy faced children, in hoods, and mittens, and cloaks. The cattle are turned loose from their warm 'tie ups' to take their breakfast of hay, strewn upon the pure snow which covers the yard, and then to go on their winding way among the drifts to the spring, down in the cedar swale, where they drink and delectate themselves with eating tender twigs and rubbing their sides against the titalating points of stumps and upturned roots.
"Suggestions of well-remembered winter pictures crowd upon us as we regale ourselves with the weather paragraphs of the Northern papers. How can a candy party attain the highest success unless they have a snow drift whereupon to pour the bubbling syrup, thereby giving it the coolness and waxiness of perfection? What like a moonlight sleigh ride and fur robes can stimulate young hearts to the unspeakable joy of love? Not the magnolia, or the orange grove, not the mimic snow of the cotton, the rich plantations of the rustling cane, nor the golden robes of the rice field."
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