Letter from Wm B. Stevens, dated 1861-12-25

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The Cavalry Regt. has gone to Annapolis, I hear. Henry West is sick in Washington, as was at last reports; his Co. of Berdan's Sharpshooters is in Camp on 7th St. in the City; there is little chance for us to know much of other Regiments, here. There is much anxiety felt to knwo what England is trying to do, and some of our Officers are so confident as to say we shall be called to defend Vt. from invasion within 30 days. I hope this is not so, and that the Mother Country will think better of her threats and hold her peace. Mary's last letter came duly to hand and will be answered when convenient. I would write to Jane in this, but I suppose she is at home now, so will omit it, I do not know though, but Thomas would be [underline]willing[/underline] to carry it out to her. Levi's mumps are cured, and [?] we Sargent's seem to be all [underline]right[/underline]. Isaac is [underline]well[/underline] now and most of the Co. are on duty; it looks good to see our Reg't on dress parade now; the line is near twice as long as when we were in the old Camp, and increases every day, I see. Both the Surgeons have been sick a little, so there was no sick call for two or three days, which may be the reason of the improvement, or another reason may be that for one or two days {underline]I[/underline] acted as Steward and filled the prescriptions for the Reg't & the doses of Quinine, Opii, Morphia, Ipicac, Dover's powders &c. were well put up. Whatever, the means of the change, we are all pleased with the result.

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Another good letter from Ann, this week; she is well, and in good spirits, I should think

[underline]My love to all[/underline]

Farewell

William

To Mother

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Camp Griffin, Va. 12th. 25th 61.

Dear Mother,

As thy last has remained so long a time, I will try to steal a few moments, to-night to reply to it. As home letters always are, it was [underline]very gladly[/underline] read, and should have been answered before, but thee wll excuse the [underline]delay[/underline], when I tell thee the [underline]reason]/underline]. I am altogether too [underline]healthy[/underline], for letter writing, now, not that it is unpleasant to me, on that acct. by any means, as I can write or do any thing else now, with a hearty good will, but the [underline]time[/underline], or the [underline]want[/underline] of it is the trouble in my case. I have been real well, since I wrote before, and am growing fat now, not the usual bloat, but good

Last edit about 3 years ago by catslover
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solid, Military [underline]flesh[/underline]; my weight is about one eighty, now which is an increase of near twenty since I was at Washington, and still on the [underline]/increase[/underline]; I am in hopes that my acclimating is over now and that I shall bear the test hereafter well, my appetite, usually [underline]good[/underline], as thee well knows, is now really an embarrassment to me, though I smother my feeling of embarrassment very well, I think, so they are not discovered by the [underline]mess[/underline]. I think [H.?] A. is troubled in the same way so far as acquiring flesh is concerned; he has been over to see me this evening, and we had a good visit, as [underline]usual[/underline]. Before I go any farher I must wish you all a Merry Christmas, though it may be rather late in the day, before [underline]you get[underline] the wish, still it is verry heartily expressed, in season too. The Box has not come yet, but I suppose the only reason is, that our Commissary can not get the teams necessary to bring the express matter for the Reg. besides hauling the Government supples. A little more than a week ago, he had four full, four horse loads drawn for the boys of our Regt, which was all there was at the station then so, I think mine will come next time, which will most likely be the

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last of this week; thee wishes thee could have sent some bed-clothing but I do not need it, so it is well thee could not send it; there is a large supply of such articles in the Hospital store tent, and I have the liberty of that dept. so I help myself, and have an abundant supply of quilts and pillows now. When the things come, I will acknowledge the receipt of them, immediately. The Stamps Mary sent came safely, and I should have mentioned it before; I was not so poverty stricken as to need the donation, though they came into use very handily. As for my [underline]blankets[/underline], they are not used about the sick, at all, but lay on my bed, as all well behaved blankets should. I got a letter from James, to-night, but you hear from him, I suppose, so I will not, repeat it here. (If your weather is like ours Aunt Mary is not there yet, I suppose. We had a very few flakes of snow, the other day, and much rain, but now it is pleasant as need be, and overcoats are a superfluity in the daytime, though comfortable in the evening, and the pickets find them indispensable. Our sick list is still growing less, and deaths are less & less frequent, and I am happy to say this is the case in nearly the whole Brigade though the Sixth is still the worst, and has lost more than any other

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