Civil War Letter - October 1961

 Oneonta Herald, Oneonta, NY, October 9, 1861

Civil War Letter

Albany Barracks, Oct. 3d, 1861:

Dear Sir: As more of my friends in Oneonta [Otsego Co. NY] than I can correspond with personally, want to hear from me, if you will permit, I will say a few words to them thro' your columns.  

When we were home last week, we expected to have been out of this before now.  But no one can ever tell about the movements of these regiments until they are past.  The yarn now is that we are waiting for our fatigue suit, which the Committee are going to furnish with the money from the towns.  A very appropriate name. We will be fatigued when we have carried it a while, in addition to our other traps.  I think, if I may be permitted to judge, that it [is] a very foolish way of spending our money.  A rubber blanket would be worth more to us than ten fatigue suits and yet, would not cost more than one third as much.  Of course it will be nice to dress up when we leave Albany and when we pass through the cities en-route to the seat of war, but, once there and they are a burden to us, and it looks silly for sensible men to spend from $8,000 to $10,000 to show off one regiment in such times as these and let them want for what would make them comfortable when in the field.  But we will not complain, it may result better than we expect.  The clothing already furnished by the government is good enough and we have enough of it, with the exception of shoes, many of those furnished at first are very poor and our officers objected and those who are coming in now get good ones.  It is evident that some scoundrel has been trying to get gain by gouging the soldiers.

Things in general are going on very much as with "sodier boys" everywhere, with the exception that we are better boys and get more marks of respect from the press and the people than other regiments. We do not wish you to go pouting because we do not appreciate the favors bestowed by the press.  We can but acknowledge we are under many obligations, but when we receive compliments in the form of bags, boxes, baskets, satchels &c. crammed with apples, cheese, cakes, pies, pickles &c. you will not blame  us for believing we have very kind friends among the people. At any rate we did think that some of them were very kind as we gathered today with about twenty other favored ones in a by place to give a hearty reception to some of these expressions of regard from some of the "dear ones at home." Such scenes occur almost daily, and we feel that if we do not deport ourselves like men, we are not worthy of such honors and dear ones.

The Christians of the regiment have sustained or rather enjoyed a prayer meeting from the first.  Of late, a movement has been made to organize a Christian Association, and it has succeeded admirably.  A constitution has been adopted and the necessary officers elected, about twenty-five names were put down at once, probably one hundred others will subscribe, and we hope to do much good by uniting our efforts.  

But my time is up.  Perhaps you may hear from us again.

Yours Truly,  Q.