Civil War letters at Middlebury College

Uniontown Jan 15 1863

Dear Frank

I received yours of the 9 to day and was very glad to hear from you once more as it is the first news we have had from your regiment since the 30 of Dec you were then under marching orders and we did not know where you were all this time I was expecting to hear from you away down south but I thank the Good being you are still on this side of the Rappahannock and in good health you say you have not got an answer to any of your letters which you have written since you were there I have answered every one of them but may be I do not put enough on them you have never given me your Division or Brigade as to money I think if nothing happens I have enough to last me until the first of April and pay my rent besides so you need not be uneasy about that but if you are paid I want you to send every cent home only what you need for you will only lose it there) Mrs Moore is going to send Abe a box and if there is any thing you need

I want you to let me know. and I will send it to you I suppose some paper and envelopes will not come amiss and she wants to know the exact way to direct your letters so the box will not get mislaid. I have rented the same house I am in for next year [Skile's??] did not notify me to leave it and when I paid my rent they asked me if I were going to stay in it another year I told them it was owing to what arrangements could be made they said I could have it at the same price I had last year without security or writings so I told them I would keep it your father talks of going to the army in the spring on a money making expedition but what I do not know Geo. was here the other day he said he was going to Beverly again he wanted me to Board [J?T?udie] till spring but I told him I could not do it for it was as much as I could do to do my own work and take care of my children but I did not tell him the main reason which was the pay Andy Prentice told me he had written to you some time ago and you had not answered it David Porter has got back from the army if you know anything of Thomas Cole let me know

I believe I have given you all the news I can think of now only we are well and I hope you are the same, the smallpox are prevailing to such an extent in Harrisburg that they are going to move the legislative to Philadelphia I want you o get vaccinated for fear yours has run out and if you move back to Washington where there are good dentists I want you to have those teeth of yours attend ed to as I am told you suffer a good deal with toothache which must be very disagreeable you say you get no news I suppose it is well enough to keep what there is from the army for it is not very encouraging there is a talk now of the Western States seceding from the eastern cutting the Union in three the Illinois legislature has appointed a committee to wait on the Governor to ask him to recall the Illinois troops and if he refuses means are to resorted to to force him to comply but how it will end nobody knows but I will send you some papers by mail and will try and get you a good lot and send in [illegible] remember your own dearest and nearest friend [Lib??]

Camp Griffin Nov 17" 1861 Friend Elisa To night your able and thoughtfull written letter came at hand since I wrote you varius changes in the climate also in our laborious and Military life we are as we may say holding the key to the Military Chessboard of the Potomac and inconsequence of holden post pertaining to Reward - and honor it keeps us in constant society Oh how diferent the life the fare of a soldier to the free and happy men who saunter gaily The streets and public places of a peacble town or villia up the thoroughfares of city the [?] or slave pen of the South canott compare with the fast fadin life of a vollunter you may think that I am discouraged I may say in one sence I am but of the only would use and once think of the poor soldier who is daily being himself

by trying to do duty which there is no need of but alass the Viz are doomed Race during this war if it can be called so we are at present camped on a what was once a Southerners Plantation it is now a fenceless and barren place but is yet alive with the poor. Invad drilling walking [?] and [?] slate rakers as we term them we are the advance or hold the advance post of The Potomac There is some Thirty Thousand men encamped within the space of Three miles and we are the only Regimt that has faced the Canon O Lee! if I could get permission from some power to Draft men in Vermont I would bring a few of Them Blk hearted [illegible] Republicans that I have herd telling so much of These Fireeaters [?] Their men that would not give a cent or come within 50 miles of a battle Field if it would save the Union They talk if they had Command of the Army of The Potomac they would go strait to Richmond if ever they go to Richmond it will be after we have been there mo I am not enterely homesick but

thing in the morning by the D-ble sound of an old Kettle drum for Roll Call then [?] a [slate?] go and pack up your Knapsac put everything you own in it and be driled around a 80 acre lot for an hour then come in and draw nailes Then go out again for perhaps 2 hours then clean your guns Eat some pea soup and drill till dark and then stand for Dress parade come in and run like a pack of hounds for a Land full of doe, or a cup full of what they call coffee come back and answer to your name go to ground and sleep and all on acount of the officers who do not know how to drill

I have complaind Longe enough tell [Fate..?] Rush I should here from him by letter and tell her I will answer now be [?] and answer this soon tell Luke to [essay?] to have [Jo?] would like to be in Brandon now give my love to all enquiring not forgeting yourself No more at present I Remain Yours Truly Billy

P.S. The weather is Freezing and it is cold sleeping in tents now Direct Camp

Griffin Co B2^nd [?] Regt Washington DC

W McKeand to Eliz Quilty

if John comes out Lt Lee will have a good time so will Geo. for Drumers have nothing to do but stay in camp Camp life is a life far different than any other life you enjoy all the there is in a forest life you are away from the busy care and tumult of a city you see nothing but ^guns what was the work of nature you can see the beautiful parade Grand before our Camp The Hills sourrounding are breathing with canon the woods and every aval-ible place are lined with huts built by the Soldiers in all it is a grand scene but when I come to think of home and the happy days spent by me I begin to think there is no place like Home but it is very seldom that my head is turned that way the boys say I am the

Merry fellow in the company when will the rave some comfort since I been sick they say they can sleep without being smoked out --- I have played some tricks on them and if anything is done Bill done it our Boys went out in great spirits in the anticipaof a Fight and they will do the fighting if there is any to be done they are a head they will have The First lick at them Wm Hale is well Jo. Falkner is our Pickett duty to day all The rest are well as far as I --- know excuse this miseable writing as my hand is not steady yet Give my love to all write soon tell Ed to write and I will answer Good by From You friend CoB 2nd Vt Regt Washington DC Wm Mc Keand

P.S. I saw Jo Bushy here. Just mind the stories he will tell when he gets home.

Billy Mc

G

To Miss E. Quilty [illegible]

[page turned] Eliza E. He. Eliza

Head Quarters 2nd Division 6 Corps January 5" 1863 Friend Eliza How do you do no dont you have forgotten me by this time but I still think of thee what is the reason you do not write me do you not rec my letters or have you grown lazy - I have not received a letter from you is sometime if you do not answer this I will talk to you when I come home What do you think of [Fredghns?] and the fight - we got nicely whiped there but are agoing to try it again We have Orders to have 3 days [Rating?] in H.S. and 8 in [S...?] we are a going to Cross the River where where we did before and Storm the Enemys possition and take it if possible - I will write more after the Battle. my health is good so is [Stannards?] I am now at H^d Q^s [&?] the Din in the Office and like