Oneonta Herald, Oneonta, NY, January 8, 1862
Civil War Letter from Warren Cutshaw
Camp Keyes, Upton's Hill, December 29th, 1861
Friend Carpenter: Another year has passed and how differently with many of us from that of the previous one. One year ago, this country was, comparatively speaking, at peace with itself at least. It was looked upon by other nations as a model Republic for its Free Institutions. And well might it have been called the Giant of the world. But how is it today? The fife and the drum are heard in every State of this union from the pine tree state to the golden state of the west, calling men to arms. They have responded manfully to the call of their country to such an extent that at the present time we have got but little less than seven hundred thousand Federal troops in the field, and I hope that the fife and drum will continue to sound until every vestige of secessionism is swept from our land. Then we shall have peace. But I promised you in my last letter that I would let you know how we passed Christmas and here it goes.
On account of the scarcity of Turkies out here, the friends of the Lansingburgh company, of which I have the honor of being a member, concluded to give the boys a Christmas dinner. We received a box from them Christmas Eve, containing twenty Turkies and eighty mince pies. The Turkies were all stuffed and cooked according to the statute in such cases, made and provided. There was a Turkey for each tent and one for our officers. It was great sport to see the boys marching down the street with their shares, each party claiming that they were monarchs of all they surveyed and their rights none dare dispute.
The Saints Rest occupied by Bunnell, Simons and brother, entered into a consolidation with the proprietors Longstaff, McNeally, Salisbury, Nobles and your humble servant of Lafayette Place to the effect that both of these ancient and well-known houses should be joined together for the period of one day, and each one should give in his rations to the chief cook, Lew Simons, and said Simons was duly invested with full power to buy such other articles as were needed for the furtherance of the great feast, prepared especially for our invited guests and ourselves. Whereupon each member of both houses entered into a solemn compact and agreed to share the expenses pro rata. We invited five young men belonging to the 22d Regiment to dine with us. We have two Turkies, nine mince pies and several kinds of cake, from fruit cake down to fried cake, and some as fine Alderberry Wine as ever need be. We are indebted to Mrs. Simons of Lansingburgh for the box of cakes and wine.
We got our dinner ready at 11 o'clock, but on account of one of our invited guests being on guard, we put off our dinner until 3 o'clock, supposing that we might as well be out of the world as out of fashion.
While we were waiting for our guest, the Col. and other officers gave us a call. They looked very wishful at our table, but we could not see them, our passes having all been given out earlier in the day. I do not know but that they would have been tempted to make a scout, but the moment they attempted to step over their bounds, the guard would bring his musket to a charge and cry halt, when they would give it up, and walk off, not however very cheerful. But we could not help it, for you know there is nothing like good discipline in a regiment, especially officers must be kept a little under, or in a short time they will think that they are above the privates and are their superiors.
At the appointed time our guests arrived and after a few preliminary remarks as to the state of the weather and their health, we repaired to the table to pay our last respects to those venerable Turkies and mince pies. Remarks were made by Simons, Longstaff, and others as to the state of our country, when your humble servant was called upon to make some remarks. Consequently, he arose and proposed very eloquently for their consideration - Whereas in the course of human events men have been known to get hungry, and taking into consideration that if we expect to walk through what is set before us, we had better get to work as we have got a long journey to travel. Whereupon by unanimous consent we went to work, our friend Longstaff acting as surgeon and provided us with lots of the needful, and be it said for once that there was no shirking from duty, but on the contrary, each tried to lessen the load for his next friend. The wine was passed around as in days of old and many were the toasts that was offered for the ladies of Lansingburgh, the donors of the Turkies and pies and other friends that we have left behind.
Dinner being over, friend Simons favored us with Vivant America and we all joined in the chorus, making the tent ring. At nine o'clock we took our tea and made a final disposition of the balance. I believe we made a clean job of it, for there could be no remains found the next morning. At 11 o'clock in the evening the scene closed and the curtain dropped. I will say that I have not set down to a better table in many a day.
Last Friday, our Regiment, accompanied by the 24th and three Regiments of Wadsworth's Brigade, headed by Gen'l Wadsworth, went out on a foraging expedition. We had with us one hundred wagons. We went out as far as Fairfax, loaded our wagons with grain and hay and returned without any difficulty. Two Regiments of cavalry went out ahead and drove in the rebel pickets.
We are still at work wasting powder for Uncle Sam. Saturday, we fired of forty blank cartridges a piece in a sham battle. These sham battles are great affairs I can tell you.
Today Homer Brewer and Clinton Ford made me a visit. I was glad to see them, as I always am any from home. But I must close, hoping that you have all spent as Merry a Christmas as I have.
I remain Yours Truly, W.C.
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