Manley Stacey Civil War Letters

The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest

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Manley Stacey Civil War Letters

October 6, 1862

*Camp Douglas*	*a Blanket, I picked up another*
*Co D 111 Regt*	*one, on my last days march, I lost*
*N Y S V*	*my Havensack, the night of the Battle*
*Oct 6th*	*but got another one, Just as good*
*Chicago*	*Some of the Boys, when they got to An-*
*Illinois*	*napolis, had got nothing, literally*
*Dear Father*	*nothing. They as soon as they got tired*
*I guess I have received*	*threw away every thing, some on the*
*all the letters, from home, except the*	*first day's march, Hundreds of*
*one directed to me at Annapolis*	*dollars worth could have been*
*with $2,00 enclosed which I hope*	*picked up after us. Yesterday we [drew]*
*to get yet, In your last letter*	*some [men] Blankets, a great deal*
*you said that, it seems to be a*	*better than the others. I have*
*settled thing, that we are to go*	*kept a full Diary, & recorded*
*Minesota [sic], I hope if this is so*	*everything of interest since I enlisted*
*You will come out here yourself*	*I find it a Capital thing to refer two [sic]*
*as you can come for $11,00 2nd*	*especially when writing. I have*
*Class. I hardly know what to send*	*written two letters to George, but*
*home for, as if we are on a march*	*have got no answer, yet. You as-*
*as we surely will be if we go out*	*ked me what papers I would like*
*west, it will be only a trouble*	*I would like the Lyons Republican*
*But if we stay here, a can or two of*	*& Occasionaly [sic] the N.Y Tribune, the*
*Preserves would go tip top to eat on*	*Republican by all mean's. I have*
*Bread. Also you may send me*	*seen the Paragraphs from the letter's*
*a pair of woolen Stockings, as the*	*that I wrote you, the boys have been*
*Army Stockings are so large and*	*reading them & wondering who wrote*
*coarse. I have not worn mine yet*	*them. You made one mistake, in*
*Cotton socks would be too cool for*	*the letter I wrote about the Battle,*
*the west. If we go West, a Cap with*	*saying that if I was ever afraid*
*a fur Band around it to turn down*	*it was then, that is a mistake.*
*I should not want it if we do*	*You ask me to write all the pa-*
*not go west. I do not think I should*	*ticulars, I am sure I write every*
*need any Bandages. You asked me*	*thing I can think about. Some times*
*if I lost any thing on our march*	*I think too much, Though it is*
*I lost nothing on the march, but*	*not much trouble, nothing else*
	*to do. I have thought of one other*
	*thing a small bottle of Pickles*
	*they would come good.*
	*We have been having lovely*
	*times for the past week,*

*The boys seeming to think that*	*only keeps us in closer confinement*
*because they are Paroled that*	*The boys heard out Major say yes*
*they can do as they like, they*	*today that we would not be ex-*
*have tore down* Sutlers Stands	*changed this winter & that we*
*I do not blame them for that*	*would not stay here, so what*
*as the* Sutlers called them Harpers	*will be done is hard telling*
*Ferry Cowards, 2100 boys from*	*It troubles me but little, as I am*
*the Camp, ran the Guard*	*contented any where. About Furlough's*
*on Friday. That is a thing, I*	*Some of the boys from the other Comp-*
*should despise myself if I*	*anies are getting them for 20 days*
*did. If I can not get out*	*According to the Articles of war*
*legally I will not get out at*	*we are entitled to Furloughs a*
*all. I got a pass on Friday*	*year of 20 day's each, we have*
*& went around the City, Chicago*	*hardly been in Service*
*is a great deal cleaner City*	*yet, You spoke in a former*
*than I supposed, Some Splen-*	*letter, about my not going on*
*did Buildings. We find Sutlers*	*Picket, oftener than I can*
*things Cheaper here, than any*	*help it, Do you think that [I] shall*
*where we have been before*	*stay in camp, when I get such*
*At the Ferry, we had to pay*	*a good chance to get out, I like*
*5 cts a slice for Bread 25 cts for*	*the duty, the more because*
*a Pres, 28 cts a lb for Butter, 10 cts*	*it is so exciting.*
*a Quart for milk 25 cts a pound*	*I can think of nothing more*
*for Sugar. Here every thing is*	*of interest to write this morn-*
*Cheaper but Fruit, Peaches*	*ing, as often as I find any thing*
*5 cts a piece Apples 2 for 5 cts*	*if interest, I will write & keep*
*Grapes 25 cts a pound & everything*	*you posted*
*else proportion. You may*	*Hoping to hear from*
*be sure that we can enjoy but*	*you soon*
*very few of these luxuries. last*	*Manley*
*night, Sunday, the boys had*
*another row on the Ground, &*
*tore down over 60 rows of fence*
*around the Camp Ground*
*This is very foolish of them as [it]*

Who were Sutlers? They men who sold a variety of goods and stock out of wagons. They set up pretty much 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.

Facsimiles of this letter

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