Manley Stacey Civil War Letters

The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest

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Manley Stacey Civil War Letters

October 1, 1862

*Camp Douglas*	*the Sunday night of the Battle, The next*
*Chicago*	*morning I took a Squad of men, some*
*Co D 111 Regt*	*of our Friends, and went down to bury*
*N Y S U*	*him. We dug his grave, in the most*
*Oct 1st /62*	*retired and Shady place that we could*
*3 PM*	*find, right at the foot of a large Oak*
	*We buried him, wrapped in up in his*
*Dear Father*	*Blanket and Overcoat & Cap*
*I have just received your*	*with the hole in it. I cut his name*
*letter from Lieut Moon, and was very*	*on a Board, like This J Drisbo*
*glad to hear again, as it is the first*	*Co, D 111 Regt, and placed it at*
*that I have heard form You, since, the*	*the head of his grave, So that*
*letter by Lieut Granger, I have read the*	*he could be found, if wanted*
*letter by Lieut Moon, but not the other*	*All of us could go right to the Spot*
*I presume it will be sent on here.*	*in a moment. Drisbo was Shot right*
*You ask me about Disbro, I guess I*	*over the left Eye, the Ball coming out*
*can tell you as much as any one, about*	*at the Back of the Head*
*him, as I stood near him when*	*Drisbo was in the same Mess with*
*he fell, and helped bury him.*	*me and I thought a great deal of*
*It is a mistake, his being shot by*	*him, as also did the other Boys, He was*
*one of his own Company, as after he was*	*always kind and obliging, especialy [sic]*
*dead, one of our Balls were tried to*	*when I was sick, offering to do any*
*put into the hole in his head, &*	*thing in his power for me. I do not*
would not go. It was a Pistol	*know that I can tell you any thing*
*Shot from a horse Pistol, in all*	*more Except, that I knew the [Plan] of*
*probability by some of the Rebel Cav-*	*his Grave & took some little Trinkets out*
*araly, as we have no such arms.*	*of his Pockets, which was sent him*
*It is almost positive that, he was*	*by Mr Cookingham. He was always the*
*shot by one of the Rebel Cavalry*	*first to do his duty, aleays volunteer-*
*which attacked us in our Rear.*	*ing, never having to be detailed,*
*It would be dreadful to think*	*I am glad you got the money, for*
*of his being Shot by on of his own com-*	*my Watch, & would be glad if you*
*omrades. It is universaly [sic] acknowledged*	*get a good chance if you would get*
*that he was shot by some of the*	*me another, & send it to me, as I need*
*Rebel Cavalry. He lived about*	*it a great deal, especially when on*
*15 minutes after he was found*	*Guard, I can hardly get along with*
	*out it then, I want a Hunter Watch*
	*If you get a good chance buy*
	*two just alike one for Charlie*
	*I guess you can get good ones*
	*for $15 a Piece. I have made*

*$12 on that [there] Watch, now it*	*say that there is lice here, but I doubt*
*only cost me $13 last winter.*	*it some, If you & Mrs Williams send*
*I suppose you Received that Package*	*a Box, a can or two or Preserves would*
*I sent by Mr Cookingham, those few*	*come very acceptable, to eat on our Bread*
*things to Charlie, if I had known*	*as any Bread goes tough when sick*
*I should have had as good chance*	*I have not been very well since I have*
*to send home as that, I should, have*	*been here, our ride wore us all out, as*
*had more. You say that it was*	*there is no rest when Traveling, as we*
*reported the we were coming home*	*do. If we go out west we will have*
*on a Furlough, we all expected that*	*to march over 80 miles, that is the only*
*in Camp, but there is no such thing*	*trouble. Time alone will show what*
*in store for us, we will either be*	*we will do. I would like very much*
*Exchanged soon or we will, be sent*	*[ ] fate of the Republicans since I left*
*to the Frontier, The Dailies for several*	*as we care more for Home News than*
*days past, say that is our destination.*	*any thing else, Tomorrow I am going*
*For my part I do not want to stay here*	*to have a Pass & and go down in the*
*long. Our Major told us last Sunday*	*City, when I shall get a chance to*
*night at Dress Parade, that he should*	*see the Place It is rumored that*
*do all in his power, to have us soon*	*the Rebel Companies are on the way*
*exchanged. You had ought to see*	*to Washington to propose terms of*
*us Scrabble when the Mail comes*	*Peace, I hope this is not so, as it*
*in, and in the morning when the*	*will not do any thing Honorable*
*Daily Papers come in to see what our*	*The Boys are all pretty well*
*Destination is & see what they say about*	*Hoping to hear from you*
*us. There will be trouble if they*	*soon With love to all*
*undertake to make us drill, before*
*we are Exchanged, I for one will not*	*M T Stacey*
*do it, & break our Parole so. The*
*9th Vermont had a Row here yesterday*
*and refused to take up arms, even to*
*go on Guard, Some of the militia*
*have to be Called out to Compel*
*them to. The other day we had*
*[ ] [ ] on the Ground, One of the*
*Sutlers called our Boys Harpers Ferry*
*Cowards, the Boys took everything*
*he had & broke everything to pieces*
*Served him right I never saw boys*
*so mad in my life. I saw Simeon*
*Reynolds here yesterday here, he is*
*in business here now, We are very glad*
*to see any body from home here*
*We are quite comfortable here now*
*considering, our Quarters, The boys*

Who were Sutlers? They men who sold a variety of goods and stock out of wagons. They set up shop mainly to sell to soldiers, and very often exploited them by charging exorbitant prices. It was an uneasy relationship between the soldiers and the Sutlers, and conflicts often occured.

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This Week in the Civil War

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