Manley Stacey Civil War Letters

The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest

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Manley Stacey Civil War Letters

October 18, 1862 (to Father)

*Camp Douglas*	*distance from our camp & is in*
*Chicago*	*a pretty Shady place, but a few*
*Co D 111 Regt NYSV*	*rods from the Lake. What seemed*
*Oct 8th '62*	*strange to me, there is no Tombstone*
*Dear Father*	*This morning I went along the*
*I wrote you on Friday*	*Lake Shore & along the the Illinois*
*last, that the boys were raising an*	*Central & inquired the wages of*
*insurrection. I think it is positive that*	*Engineers & Firemen. Fireman on*
*some of the Paroled Prisoners started the*	*Coal Burners get $40 a month & on*
*Fire, the night before, On Friday night*	wood Burners $35, So if I get discharged
*at Supper, were ordered to pack our*	*do not look for me home, I shall*
*Knapsacks, & get our things ready*	*get a job here, as I could have*
*so that we could pick them up at*	*got one this AM. Mother seems to*
*a moments notice. we did not know*	*be down on our Colonel, I do not blame*
*but what our Barracks would be*	*her, he is no Man. I hope the Citizens*
*burned up next. It is very pleas-*	*of Lyons will hurry up the Petitions*
*ant to think that the Roof over your*	*as the Boys are in an awful hur-*
*head may be burned down during*	*ry to get home. Sunday morning*
*the night. During the night the*	*6 AM. I received a god long*
*Boys tore down some new line*	*letter from home yesterday, and am*
*Fence. I can not see what is*	*always glad to get one. If you*
*in the Boys, nor how it can ben-*	*were here about 12,30 PM when the*
*efit them. There was the last, that*	*Mail is distributed, & see the boys*
*I heard from the General Hospital*	*rush around the Orderly when*
*7 cases of Small Pox. The boys*	*he distributes the Mail, it would*
*all swear they will not stay here.*	*do you good. Last night three*
*I do not know what this will*	*of our men were detailed to Guard*
*end in, I think the Government*	*our Barracks against Fire, it was*
*will have to do something or other*	*reported here that some of the [?]-*
*and that very soon. They [seem]*	*[?] Boys, said they were going to*
*to move so slow. I wish they would*	*burn every Barracks on the Ground*
*do something & that right off*	*For my part I did not want to*
*About half of the Guard Fence is*	*be burnt out. Today at 9 AM*
*torn down, & the Boys, go out &*	*we are going to have another*
*in when they choose, the Guard*	*Inspection. To be sure it does*
*turning their backs when*	*not last long, but who wants to*
*they see the Boys Coming. I went*	*be on duty every Sunday. It is very*
*up to see Douglas's Grave yesterday*	*necessary to have the Inspection*
*afternoon. It was but a short*

*to see that the Boys keep*	*medicine he gives is a little*
*themselves clean & keep their*	*Quinine Opium & some other Trash*
*clothes clean, but then there is*	*which invariably brings the Boys*
*no use, in having them on Sun-*	*right down. Some of the Boys have*
*day. How I would like to be home*	*been in there, ever since they have*
*this morning, & get on a Citizens*	*been here & getting worse all*
*Shirt & go to meeting, but I cannot.*	*the Time. I have yet to hear of a*
*Charlie Cookingham, got a letter*	*case that he has benefited*
*from home yesterday, which said*	*There is 89 cases, in the Hospital*
*that Mr Gavitt was coming*	*from our Regt, Yesterday 3 Died*
*either today or tomorrow, I hope*	*with the Typhoid Fever & we have*
*this is so. I think I shall go*	*got two or three men from our*
*out to Mrs Stones tomorrow, if it*	*own Company that must*
*is pleasant, as I have such a Cor-*	*Die next. It is a perfect shame*
*dial invitation to come when*	*that our Boys must be killed*
*I can, & enjoy my self tip top*	*off at this rate. Doctor H rides*
*there. Tuesday I am to have a*	*around the Ground, with his*
*Pass to go to the City, I think I shall*	*Buckskin Gloves on & his hair*
*get my Photographes [sic] taken then*	*curled up, not caring whether*
*They take Splendid ones here, for*	*the Boys live of Die. I never*
*$2,00 a Dozen, the Size of Willis*	*would believe before that*
*Vandermarks. If I had the mon-*	*more died in the Hospital than*
*ey I would get a Large one*	*on the Battle Field, but now I*
*You can get a large one here*	*know it. If you would go through*
*about 8 by 10 for a $1,00 & 50 cts*	*our Hospital and see the boys*
*for Negatives. I shall try some-*	*Dying off, through nothing else but*
*thing. I can get them taken*	*the want of better care, you would*
*with full Uniform on, as the*	*not wonder that Boys protest,*
*Artist has full Equipments.*	*against it. This thing is getting*
*Now I have a word to say about*	*played out.*
*our Hospital, & the Doctors. It is*	*With love to Mother Maggie*
*a saying here that as sure as*	*& Rosa Charley*
*a Boy goes into the Hospital*	*I am*
*that is the End of him. Doctor*	*Manley*
*Hopkins is no more fit for the*
*place than I am, all the*	*I have got some*
	*little stones*
	*from the shore*
	*of Lake Erie*
	*for Rosa and Maggie*

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