Soldier's Letter, Civil War, January 1862

 Chenango American, Greene, NY, February 12, 1862

We find in the Cazenovia Republican of Feb. 5, a letter from the army bearing date at "Taylor's Tavern, Va., Jan. 25, '62." which speaks very highly of the skill of the Otselic boys in handling their "shooting irons." When the time comes they will use their sharp shooters as effectively upon the rebels as they did in the match. They are brave boys and will leave their marks upon any enemy that may oppose them.  We extract from the letter such portions as will be of interest to our readers.

The possession of good rifles has aroused a spirit of emulation among the men in regard to marksmanship, and target shoots are all the go.  A Regimental shooting match was gotten up by permission of the colonel, a few days since, for three prizes.  The first prize was a revolver, valued at $20; the second and third were money prizes, the exact amount of which I did not learn.  The competitors paid 25 cents, and had five shots, at a distance of eight rods. The match lasted three days, between one and two hundred names being entered.  Our company took their turn in the forenoon of the second day.  Sergeant Edwin G. Frink, of South Otselic, made the best shot on the board, and put in the whole five so close that it became evident to the getters up of the match (Co. B) that in order to retain the revolver in their company, as they were determined to do, the original plan of measuring the string of five shots must be abandoned.  So it was announced that the best shot of the five only was to count.  Not content with this, while our men were gone to dinner the paper patch on the board was changed so at to bring Frink's shot second best, as was evidenced by the measurement of at least twenty-five men.  Disgusted with such proceedings, and finally seeing that fair play could not be expected, Mr. Frink accepted an offer of $4 for his shot, as it stood, and left Jefferson county in possession of the field.  Yesterday the commissioned officers of our company made up a purse of $10, which was divided into three prizes of $5, $3, and $2 respectively, for which the members of the company shot, best shot in five, at forty rods.  Orderly Serg't Richardson took the first prize, Calvin P. Warner of South Otselic, the second and Corporal Seth M. Ackley, of Woodstock, took the third.  Another match, for a watch is on the tapis in our company to come off day after tomorrow.  Target shoots of smaller dimensions are constantly coming off, keeping up an incessant popping of guns and whizzing of bullets, which keeps pedestrians in constant terror.

I forgot to mention, last week, that Joseph West, of South Otselic has been detached as workman in the division blacksmith shop, at the railroad about a mile from here.

On behalf of the Chenango County boys, I would acknowledge the receipt of a tub of excellent butter from Mr. A.A. Stoddard and other citizens of Otselic, and return our thanks for the same.  It don't go very bad.  

Your, ever   [no name or initials]