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Manley Stacey Civil War Letters

   October 31, 1862 (to Father)

Camp Douglass himself.  I am not sorry, because    
Chicago Illinois I got a good Price, for the Watch    
Co D 111 Regt NYSV You can say all you choose, but    
Oct 29th they can not make me believe, but    
2,30 PM what he deserted.  I know how he felt    
Dear Father & how he talked before that.  He al-    
I have just received your long ways said he would be taken    
letter from home, for which I am much Prisoner & be Paroled & go home.    
obliged.  I should not have written They did not do anything with    
to Capt Holmes, he does not deserve him here.  I have heard that the
it,  I think but little of him since Capt, tried to get him Court Mar-    
he did that.  Precious likely that tialed, but the Major, said there    
the boy's that had things in the was no Cause.  He says he did    
Trunk & especialy [sic] I could not get not know that he had to report    
our things out.  You asked me to Annapolis.  I am sorry Mother does    
about Billy Waters & about my Watch not like the Photographs.  I am sure    
I lent him my Watch at the I could not have one taken with    
Ferry, the day He went on Picket out it's showing some of the    
with the Company.  He kept the Marks on my face.  As to my Eyes    
watch until he got to Frederick, I did not look directly at the    
then he Traded it off, to get Money Camera & tried my best to get    
to come home with,  This Waters owns a good Picture.  However I will    
  not try any more, on any account

Picture or no Picture.  I do not think convenient.  I do not know ho, Brown
it best for you to send me can live with the Boys, An Officer
any thing else until I know what can be Fined for Eating with them
is to be done with us.  If we go or for Drawing Rations from the U S
to New York State, I shall most I think a great deal of both
likely get a Furlough to come home Lieutenants & get along tip top with
for a Short time.  Our Colonel said every one, until this last scrape which
to day that we were going Home I can not forget, nor never will.
that was Certain,  I am sure every I made up my mind that I would
thing looks favorable now.  This I not take any of the Doctors stuff
Know, the 126th NYSV, taken with and have not but once, it is
us are cooking three days Rations worse than nothing.  We are not
preparing to leave.  If they go why Drilling to day, as the Regt was
not we.  I think you are mistaken on guard yesterday.  I take good
about my losing Flesh, since I care to get on Guard nights
have been in the Service, the as to get rid of this Guard Duty
Boys all say, that I am Stouter & You must not think that I am so
have gained.  With regard to my lonely here, I can assure you that
Room, it is the Orderly's room, but I have a great many good times
he did not occupy it, so I took & some times pretty lively ones.

how it stands,  It think the Repub- got his Furlough & is waiting now
licans would have a big Majority for Money to go home with, he feels
This Oct [30]th 6 AM.  Since good about it.  I wish I was in
I wrote the Above, things are looking his place.  I let Chap brown
a little more encouraging.  About have, those [Minutes] last night
one AM, we had a Barrel of Fresh he had not seen them.  I think
Beef come & was ordered to cook it I shall call on Mrs Stone
immediately.  The Chap says we are again before I leave, at least
going to draw our pay this week I shall try to.  I do not expect
& then the Chap thinks we are you will get as good a watch
going to Auburn.  Capt Holmes as I had before, but I would
says his opinion is that we like a good one as you can
shall see Home in the Course get,  Could you not get a good
of a week.  Last night was the one at Fords in Rochester
first night that I have slept in Hoping to hear soon
quite a while.  I think I am doing I am
pretty well this week, writing a Manley
letter every day.  I shall continue  
to do so until we hear someth- Tell Maggie that I shall
ing definite, with regard to hope to see her in a few
our going home.  Aleck has days, & take a ride with
  her, in that Famous Rig
  I shall try to bring her some
  thing, also Rosa

to Charlie

to Mother

Charles Henry Augustus You must not think because
I have got a small ac- I have not written to you, that
count to settle with you, when I I did not want you to write, far
see you.  If you do not write from it,  but I supposed, that
me some good long letters the news I had written, you would
I shall disown you.  I suppose all like to hear.  I am trying to
you are all right now you carry myself about right & think
have got a horse to take care I can get along by behaving
off [sic].  You must persuade Father myself and carrying myself about right
to get a Sleigh Harness & a Sleigh I have attended some of the evening
open waggon [sic] by all means meetings at the Post
I shall expect to take some rides Chapel, but can not attend reg-
with you this winter.  I have got ular, on account of my being on
a Splendid Blanket for the Guard.  I am very sorry, of course
Horse & if I come home you shall that I could not come home
have it.  One of our boys Johnny [Paylor] I would like a change, both
has just brought in a Splendid little of Diet & lodging.  Here we have
Dog & has named him Camp Douglass no conveniences of lodging, nothing
We have a great many good times but Blankets, to sleep on and
here & I just wish you were here, for under, so I can not take off
a week.  You could have lots of pants.  I do not know, what
fun especially at night seeing the I should think to set down to
Rats have Battallion [sic] Drill a Table & sleep on a bed again
Write soon Manly Do not think I am complaining
  far from it.  I tell you what I
  want, next week when I take
  Supper with you, that is Wheat
  Pancakes & Syrup, I think I could
  relish this. You should see
  the how excited the boys are, at
  the prospect of coming home
  And I a little.
  Hoping to see you soon
  Manley

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