Manley Stacey Civil War Letters

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Manley Stacey Civil War Letters

August 31, 1862

Camp Beardsly	a change in the corporals
Harpers Ferry Va	We have two from Lyons
Aug 31st 1862	that are regular Sap heads
	not fit for any Office, they are
Dear Father,	to be reduced or brought down
I received your letter	lower, I am certain that I shall
from home and was glad to hear	not, as I have been called on
from you all, so soon,	for duty several times when it was
Yesterday I received the Tribune	not my turn, I have been
If you would Just as soon	Corporal of the Guard twice
send me the weekly papers	& Copr. of the Picket today, three
the Republican & Democrat	one week, considering there are
I would much rather have	eight Corporals. The other day I was
them, as I see the New York	Corporal of the Guard, there was
papers the next morning after	one over me & one under me
they are printed The News Boys	The Officer of the Guard put me
bring them into camp every	no. one, as he said I knew
morning at 6, so we are not	more about the work & gave me
much behind you as regards	the change of the Guard.
news. I think this week there	Today Rank Corporal of the Picket
will be change of offi-	Guard, Stationed of the Winchester
cers, Non Commissioned of course	Road, about three miles out [ ]
Our 2nd Lieutenant Granger	responsible of the Posts, as men
from [Lodus], was taken sick	have been Shot at several times
at Auburn, and could not	lately, here. I reported my men first
come with us & I think it	and my place was Guarding
will be doubtful if he comes	one of the streets in the Village
at all, if not that will [suit]	but I asked to have it changed
me. The Captain told one of	to this place, where there would
our Boys that there was to be	be something to do. I have [found]
	Picket duty in the night is that

to allow no one to pass us or	every little noise disturbed them
cross the Track, If they refuse to	Enclosed I send you a Picture
stop when Hailed to take them	I have taken yesterday, It is a
Prisoners and bring them to the	good picture, all but the Face
Ferry, Yesterday some of our boys	it is all the kind they take here
brought in a Contraband, he	I think I shall send Sarah one
was taken to the Colonels tent	this week. The boys think
He says the Jacksons Forces are	everything of Capt Holmes &
within 5 miles of the Ferry, scouring	Lieutenant [Moon], they gave them
the woods. This I know that with-	$65 to get each of them a Sword
in a quarter of a mile of our	in N Y. Capt H cried when
camp there are Gurillas, as Sig-	he thanked the Boys. We see
nal lights are seen every night	but little of Chaplain Brown
All that separates the mountain	There are almost a bushel of
from us is a little stream of	letters a day sent from this Regt
water, I care not how full	short packets were distributed to
they are, I am not afraid.	us also stockings, Shirts & drawers
We are within about 5 miles	I shall not do my own washing
of Charl'stown, on the Winchester	as long as we are here & can get
RR. I am sitting in my little	it done. I tell you we live all
tent now writing this, I just hav-	together different now. Mr Crowl
in relieved a man. The night	is our Cook. Today we are going
is the time. A Picket's duty is to	to a Farm house to get our din-
lay down flat on his Stomach	ner, it will be a change
keep wide awaken not to whistle	Hoping to hear from you
smoke speak out loud, and	soon with love to MAggie
keep a good look out [slow], and	Rosa Charlie & Mother
lonely business. On Friday night	I remain
it was reported that Jackson	Manly
was coming 5 rounds of Cartridges	The boys all well
was distributed to every man.	T Hooker has been sick
I tell you some of the Guard
was frightened that night

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