Chenango Telegraph, Norwich, NY, January 22, 1862
Letter from Capt. J.O. Martin, 17th Regiment, N.Y.S.V.
Head quarters, 17th Regiment, N.Y.S.V., Camp Butterfield, Hall's Hill, Va., January 13th, 1862
Messrs. Editors: Do you still publish The Chenango Telegraph(?). If you do, why don't you send a copy down this way occasionally? We have not seen a paper from Chenango for six weeks. I propose in this letter to tell you how we spent the holidays in camp, and what we are expecting to do in a few days.
For several days before Christmas, we spent our leisure time in beautifying our camp. Beautiful cedar trees were set between the tents and little gardens made around them. A large arch was sprung over the front of the principal street of the camp, in which were the names of our generals, Butterfield, Porter and McClellan. Smaller arches were placed over each company street and in front of each tent. Christmas Eve, as soon as it became dark, the entire camp was brilliantly illuminated; large fires were built on the parade ground and every body "went in" for a good time. The men were furnished with eatibles and drinkables by their officers, while the officers went to enjoy a splendid entertainment provided by the Colonel and other field officers. All the officers of the division were invited to the party. It was held in the Colonel's new log house. Generals Morell and Martindale were present. The straps of colonel's and officers lower in rank were glittering as brightly as the stars without. A supper fit to satisfy an epicure was spread in the mess tent, which was partaken of with a relish such as is known nowhere but in camp. Champagne flowed freely, and it seemed necessary and appropriate to drink the health of various individuals, from "Old Abe" and the "little Corporal," down the list of army officers. Many good jokes were cracked, and we could all see "where the laugh came in." All seemed to agree in the conclusion that this was a great country, but that it was a hard matter to fence it in; that the Rebels were great rascals and deserve to be severely thrashed, and that we were all bold soldiers and would annihilate those scamps down South one of these days. After supper there was a dance. Silk dresses were not as numerous as they are at "upper ten" parties in old Chenango, yet a number of those articles floated in the images of the dance, and were worn by as fine looking ladies as you could wish to see. Mrs. Col. Lansing, Mrs. Col. Stryker and Mrs. Col. Morris were among them. All seemed to enjoy it finely, and retired to a late hour to dream of home and battles.
Christmas day we visited, ate roast turkey and wondered what people were doing at home. The 44th had a burlesque dress parade in the afternoon which was very amusing. The men were fixed up in every conceivable ridiculous manner that a fertile fancy could suggest. The music, the maneuvers and the orders read were all in keeping. If you can imagine a Pandemonium of ragged soldiers, gathered from every nation under the sun, dressed in every uniform that was ever worn, and as many others, never worn, with the Devil mounted on a hippopotamus acting as Colonel, you may have some slight idea of the way this dress parade looked.
On New Years Eve, the officers of the Brigade were invited to a party by the officers of the 83d Pa. Regiment. I was not able to go and found I lost a great treat, for the entertainment was said to be very fine.
Last Saturday we were favored with a visit from David L. Fottett, Esq., and Hon. Joseph Bush of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY]. The Chenango boys were not a little pleased to see them. They staid to see the dress parades of the several regiments of our Brigade and seemed to think we were in pretty good fighting trim. Mr. Follett kindly offered to carry home money for us, and went away with quite a pocket full of Treasury notes from Company H to their friends in Chenango. Mr. Bush carried home some hard crackers to the ladies of Bainbridge that they may see how "we poor soldiers suffer." We hope to see both the above named gentlemen in camp again before we leave the "sacred soil."
George Beckwith of Guilford [Chenango Co., NY] was discharged from my Company for physical debility, and started for home yesterday. Beckwith was a first rate soldier, always ready and willing to do his duty and we were sorry that he was obliged to leave us. We are under obligations to his mother for providing stockings, &c. They have kept us warm these cold winter nights. May a kind Providence reward her for these gifts to the soldiers.
Some two weeks since, General Porter called together the colonel's of his Division and told them that the Division would leave their camps and go into active service within four weeks and might go any day. That for the next four weeks after we left here we would see plenty of hot work, that we would leave our tents and live for that time under little tents which the men carry on their backs and that at the end of that time our tents would reach us. We are ordered to have an inspection of our companies everyday and to have everything in readiform to march. He does not tell us where we are going. There are various theories among the officers. It is generally supposed that we are going on an expedition of some sort, and that we will go within a week. Nothing else can please us so well as the order for the Division to start.
The general health of the men is good. Sergeant Moore of Company H is still sick with fever and ague. The snow is six inches deep on these cold hills of old Virginia this morning. You can imagine how pleasant it is to stand guard and to drill in the snow. Hoping that we may soon have a chance to do the work we came to do. I am yours respectfully
J.O. Martin
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