Soldier's Letter, Civil War - October 1862

 Chenango American, Greene, NY, October 9, 1862

Letter from the 114th NY Infantry

On Special Duty, Baltimore, Oct. 6, 1862

Eds American:  It is troublesome and perplexing to speculate upon things that are hidden from our view by the future.  "Special Correspondents" are apt to think "forward movements" are to be made because they see no reason to prevent, and immediately, through the columns of their "special" papers, long articles on the route of the army, the results and benefits to be secured by such a move, are put forth, and the people who read, await anxiously for the development of their plans until their patience becomes worn out and their confidence in military commanders shaken if not entirely destroyed.

The policy that once broke up the fine and effective army of Gen. McClellan into separate divisions, under Generals who held different views upon the manner of approaching Richmond, will not again gain a foothold in the Cabinet, and McClellan will probably have the privilege of choosing his own way, and select the time and place for another struggle with rebeldom that may, to him, seem advantageous. There is now, as there has heretofore been, the constant cry of "Why don't McClellan push his advantages?" and correspondents predict, and reporters telegraph startling rumors and sensation newspapers come out with large headings of "Impending battle!" and again, as of yore, the public are duped.

There is a host even now fighting a long but terribly sure battle with the enemy.  A combatant as remorseless as famine, and as fatally sure of victory.  Even famine itself, and our General knows that while the rebel army are among the mountains of the Blue Ridge, with only half rations to eat, and poor at that, and scarcely a blanket to keep them from the chilly night air, they are becoming more and more reduced in strength, and their faith in the cause for which they have been compelled to fight, never strong, is completely swept away.

There is yet no change in our regiment, and how near or distant the day when we shall be ordered to move, no one can tell.  The daily drill and the monotonous routine of guard duty is becoming "too much of a good thing," and unless we soon have something to vary our everyday life, I fear that discontent will be brooded in our camp.  The only thing that seems to interest the "boys" now is the rumor that we were to be brigaded with the 116th N.Y.S.V. and a Connecticut regiment, the number of which has escaped me.

Company E Capt. MacDonald's company, has lost a member by sickness and death.  The name of deceased was Albert Teachout, of West Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY]\.  He is said to have been in poor health before he enlisted and the fatigue of drill and guard duty prostrated him with a fever, and he rapidly declined, until death claimed him, another victim to Jeff Davis' Confederacy.

Respectfully &c, A.