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Status: Indexed

Fernandina Dec. 29, 1861

My Dear Wife,

I send you one letter by mail but as it is rather
uncertain when you will get it, & Mr. Carrova is here I take this
opportunity to write again as I supoose that you fell rather anxious
but do not forget that I feel just as deep anxiety concerning you
& the boys. I am very well thank the Lord - we are now a little
settled got rations & got cooking utensils, but soon perhaps we shall
be moved again in tents together with the whole regiment.

We don't have to drill at all at least we have not yet only dress-
parade at 3 ½ oclock which does not take over ½ hour. But I tell you
time passes slowly. To day I have been at the Methodist Church
the only on open except the Catholic Church the Ministers all having
left yet there were over 30 or 40 men in Church out of 5000
soldiers - which does not very well correspond with the piety of
our soldiers as they are pictured out to us by accounts in the
newspapers. It seem to be the outscourings & dregs of human
beings all gathered together, of course there are exceptions
I believe the "Blues" indeed rank No. 1 among the whole
such Rowdeism I never saw in my life as here & if our
enemies ar much worse I do not know where to put
them. James Allen is discharged & will come home some
time next weeek. I wish I could get mine too but we
shall have to wait. I may be that we be send home
but movements ar so slow that for my part I shall just
take it as it comes & arm myself with patients. A few
days ago it was told us that on the first of Jan we would be

Notes and Questions

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glynn

When Steinbeck is referring to "The Blues" he's definitely referring to the 3rd Florida Infantry Regiment, specifically Company B, which was known as the "Saint Augustine Blues," or as he has it, just "The Blues". They had their own flag, cf.: https://moconfederacy.pastperfectonline.com/webobject/30443EB7-8AA5-48D6-AFB9-457806435137