Manley Stacey Civil War Letters

The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest

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Manley Stacey Civil War Letters

October 8, 1862 (first letter)

*Camp Douglas*	*home before long, as the major*
*Chicago*	*gave Orders, last night at*
*Oct 8th*	*Dress Parade, for every man that*
	*was not fit to do military Duty*
*Dear Father*	*to be reported. And I know we*
*I am getting anx-*	*have several. One of the Pal-*
*ious to get my back letters, of*	*myra Boys has got a Substi-*
*which I am confident, there must*	*tute by paying $111, & is expecting*
*be several. On Tuesday*	*to leave for home this morn-*
*morning were were ordered to pack*	*ing. Good for him.*
*Knapsacks, Coats & Blankets, and*	*I had a talk with the Capt*
*form a line at 10,45 for Inspec-*	*last night, he seems to think*
*tion. We marched to the Square*	*that we will not soon be*
*to be Inspected by Genl Tyler*	*exchanged. but that this will*
*which lasted till one AM.*	*be our Winter Quarters, if this*
*During the night, we heard the*	*be so, I suppose we will see*
*Cry of Fire, & such a scrabbling*	*you out here, or some of the*
*the boys all taking out their*	*Friends, before long. I would*
*things, before they knew where*	*rather be exchanged & go to Drill-*
*the Fire was, It turned out*	*ing again, As I think it doubt-*
*to be a pile of Rubbish opposite*	*ful , if we drill here. It would*
*Co A's Barracks, which did not*	*make a great difference to*
*amount to much. Yesterday*	*us, if we knew what we were*
*one of our Boys Died in the*	*to do. I see there is a great*
*Hospital, his name was Austin*	*deal of talk about, who was*
*[Legg] of [?] Berlin, he died*	*to blame about the Surrender*
*if Intermittent Fever. Tom Hooker*	*at the Ferry. I find but one*
*has been pretty sick, for the past*	*expression among all of the men*
*few days, with a very bad Diar-*	*not only our Regt, but all that*
*eeah, Tom looks quite pale, There*	*were taken & that was that*
*is but little danger in that*	*Miles was the man. Why did he*
*however. Most likely you will*	*order our Guns to cease Firing*
*see some of the Lyons boys*	*on Sunday morning, when we*
	*could plainly see the Rebel*

*Signals with their*	*place, he is not liked by any*
*white Flag, he must have known*	*of the Boys, First Corporals[ ]*
*that that was not right, Some*	*[ ] him a great deal & what*
*of the Artillery Boys kept Firing*	*would [Ord ] do. We are living*
*even after the order & it had*	*better now. We have regular*
*to be repeated. All Cursed*	*meals, & sit down to a table*
*Miles & said if it had not*	*& live some thing like [it] & yet*
*been for him, we would not*	*I miss home comforts.*
*have been so. I do not think*	*I am a little sorry that I brought*
*we cold have held the*	*Your Rubber Coat, it is heavy*
*place over 48 hours, with out*	*to carry, but if we stay here all*
*Reinforcements, even with the*	*winter, I presume I shall need*
*Hights [sic]. We were so completely*	it
*Surrounded. However this is*
*all past now. I am not sorry*	*Hoping to hear from*
*now, that we have been through*	*you soon.*
*what we have. I do not think*
*that I could have got in a*	*Manley*
*Company, where there are better*
*Commissioned Officers, They all*
*seem to be Just the men for*
*the [place] and are liked by*
*all the boys. And we have*
*also a Model Orderly sergeant*
*Augustus w Green of [Lodus]*
*I do not think we could*
*have been more fortunate*
*nor do I know a man in the*
*Company, that could do as*
*well as he. Dan Hutchings*
*tried to get it, but I would*
*rather have given $50 than*
*have had him in the*

October 8, 1862 (second letter)

*Camp Douglas*	*when we came here, but*
*Chicago*	*the boys made so much*
*Oct 8th*	*fus [sic] about it & swore they would*
	*not, that I think they will*
*Dear Father*	*not do it The boys are have*
*I forgot in my last*	*ing it pretty much their own*
*letter to ask you to send me a*	*way now, the night before last*
*set of Brass letters, such as they*	*they tore down over 50 rods*
*mark Bags & Boxes with, only have*	*of the line fence & yesterday*
*them separate & a Bottle of Ink*	*over 40 took French leave &*
*in my box. Size of the letters*	*went down in the City, the Guard*
*about 3/4 of an inch or inch*	*not offering to stop them,*
*would be a little better*	*A great many of the*
*They are just what I need*	*Boys are deserting out of the Regt*
*to mark my things with*	*here, they are booking their*
*And I know I can make*	*Passage on the Boats in Buffalo*
*enough to more than pay*	*& other ports, I think I shall put*
*their cost, as the boys all*	*up with a great deal before*
*need their things marked*	*I leave, What good would*
*And I know I can make a good*	*it do to Desert if you cold*
*thing out of it. I will give you*	*not go home, & if you, you will*
*now, the routine we have to [ ]*	*surely be caught. The punishment*
*with every day, here in Camp. Roll*	*of the boys that have left us*
*call at Sunrise, breakfast at 7 AM*	*is to be very light, compared to*
*from then until noon nothing to do*	*what I thought. They are to be return-*
*but read & write, at 12 dinner*	*ed to the Regt, & they pay all ex-*
*At PM for four days past we*	*penses, It will however cost them*
*were to have the Rules and articles*	*about $50. We get mail here*
*of War read, at 5 PM Supper*	*twice a day, at 11,30 AM and*
*at 8,30 Roll Call, so you can*	*at 5 PM, I get the Daily Chicago*
*see Just about what we have*	*Papers by paying 5 cts a Piece, which*
*to do, We were ordered to*	*but few will do. I have not*
*Drill four hours a day*	*received the letter directed to*
	*Annapolis, to me with the*

*$2,00 enclosed yet. I do not know*	the time, You have heard of
*what to think about it now.*	the heavy Dew's here, they were
*Charlie asked me to describe*	so heavy that they wet our
*the Revolver I have got for*	Blankets completely through
*him. It is a small Seven*	*In the morning, they are just like*
*Shooter weighing about a pound*	*a Fog. I got used to it however*
*it is in perfect order & is a*	*and did not mind it. Could*
*splendid looking piece & will*	*you make out any thing with*
*just suit him I know, I have*	*the Map of the Ferry, that I*
*also got the Belt & all acoutre-*	*drew, it was very imperfect*
*ments. It will make his eyes*	*but then I expected to come home*
*water, Charlie may be glad*	*& then I could explain it, It*
*that he never came here*	*would give you a good idea*
as he never could have	*of how, we were situated.*
*stood the march, Yesterday*	*We are now drawing the*
*Some of the Ohio & Indiana*	*Clothes that we lost on the*
*Regts, three months men, were*	*march, And I think the next*
*mustered out of the Service*	*will be to draw our Guns &*
*& [Recd] their back pay, it made*	*Acoutrements & then next go*
*us think of a time to come*	*west.*
*but a great way in the distance*	*I can think of nothing*
*Yesterday we had a good time*	*else to write, I suppose you*
*about Rations, the Quartermaster*	*have seen where we have*
*of the Ground wanted us to*	*to go when Exchanged*
*take some, stinking meat, and*
*we refused to do it, so we had*	*Love to all*
*no dinner, he came to terms*	*Boys all well*
*in the afternoon. You asked*
*me in a Previous letter whether*	*Manley*
*Crowl, was Company Mess Cook*
*he was a Company Cook & a good*
*one at that. You also asked*
*me if we slept out of doors*
*We have about a third of*

Definition: "French leave" is desertion

Facsimiles of these letters:

This Week in the Civil War

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