Manley Stacey Civil War Letters

The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest

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Manley Stacey Civil War Letters

September 6, 1862

*Garibaldi Brigade*	*near enough to our Arms to seize them*
*Camp Beardsly*	*at a moments notice. We then Camped*
*Harpers Ferry Va*	*out with our Overcoats on & our Blan-*
*Sep 6th*	*kets over us, It was not so very bad*
	*if there was a heavy [ ], This morn-*
*Dear Father*	*ing we had a good appetite for*
*After writing to Charlie, yes*	*our Crackers and water. I was Appointed*
*terday, telling him that we should*	*Corporal of the New Guard this morn-*
*soon be into action, little did I think*	*ing, but was excused, & was very glad*
*how near we were to it. At three PM*	*to be, Now we are laying around, some*
*yesterday we had orders to pack our*	*writing, some singing & some reading*
*Knapsacks, strike our Tents, & get ready*	*All trying to take it cool. The*
*to march at a moments notice. You*	*reason we left our former position*
*can Imagine the confusion, of 1000 men*	*it was reported that the Rebels were*
*getting ready to move at a moments no-*	*coming up the Valley, in force, how true*
*tice, At 4,30 we marched to the mess*	*it is I can not tell, but this I know*
*house to get 24 hours Rations of hard*	*There was Shells fired into our Camp*
*Crackers, at 5,30 we bid farewell to*	*Ground last night. I think we*
*our Camp Ground, Marching about*	*shall have our hands full very*
*a mile west of our former Ground,*	*soon now, things look like it now*
*on to a very high hill commanding*	*Sunday 2 PM*
*the whole of the place. It was the*	*As I could get no chance to*
*most wearisome of all the marches*	*send this yesterday, I concluded to*
*it was so warm. Our Brigade is to*	*fill it up till I get a chance.*
*be called the Garibaldi Brigade.*	*We have had no mail communic-*
*As we stand now, on our right , is the*	*tion with Baltimore in several days*
*60th Vermont Vols, the 126 N Y S V], on our*	*On account of some Rail Road*
*Front the 8th N Y Cavalry. On our Right*	*Bridge, I think. This morning we*
*the 113th N Y S V, the Garibaldi Cavalry*	*were drawn up into line, fpr*
*and some other Troops that I do not*	*Inspection, We were Introduced*
*know the No of, Last night when we*	*to our Brigadier General Colonel*
*arrived at our present Camping*	*[ ], A Frenchman I think, as*
*ground, we were drawn up in a*	*he talks very broken. He Com-*
*Line of Battle, all our Guns were lo-*	*plimented us very highly, also our*
*wered, & we were ordered to sleep near*	*Colonel, He said that led on*
	*by such a Colonel as ours we*
	*could not help but suc-*
	*cessful, He said he was proud*

*to have such a Regt in his Brig-*	*Guarding the Colors & the Color*
*ade. After the Inspection we marched*	*Bearer. The Color Bearer, is*
*down to meeting, together with the*	*Seargent in Co C, he had been*
*8th Ohio. This Regt, commenced*	*in the Army 15 years, he is the*
*with 1050 men & have now not*	*man that drills us in the morn-*
*more than 800, having lost*	*ing at the Officers Drill.*
*all of those men in Battle, they*	The report that, the Rebels were
*are a rough looking set, Almost*	*coming here, arose from this, Gen*
*all Germans. Chaplain Brown*	*Siegel, crossed the Potomac about*
*preached us a short sermon.*	*10 miles east of here, at the*
*He looks like Quite a Military*	*Point of Rock, with 30,000 men*
*man with his Sword & Sash.*	*I shall not be surprised if*
*There has been a great many*	*we get marching orders from*
*Axidents [sic] since we have been*	*here very soon, It was reported*
*here, owing a great deal to*	*that we had got, but I do*
*carelessness. For instance a Boy*	*not believe it. I am sure I do*
*next to our tent, this noon was*	*not care, how soon, all I want*
*cleaning his Gun, when carelessly*	*is to get to work. I think our*
*lifting it, it went off, discharg-*	*Regt has done Nobly, as [far]*
*ing the Ram Rod through the*	*Drilling goes. I know that I*
*Tent. It was a wonder no one*	*have learned a great deal*
*was hurt. One or two have*	*This a rough sort of a life*
*broken their arms. And one man*	*but I am not sorry that I*
*in the 126 Regt, cut his throat*	*came here, I expected some pri-*
*the other night, because he*	*vations, and should have been*
*heard that, the Girl that he*	*disappointed if we did not have*
*was engaged to be married*	*some. A man by the mane of*
*to had been married, since*	*John Dyer, dropped out of the*
*he left. I have got a pretty*	*Ranks this morning, I think he*
*Position now, this morning I*	*was Sun Struck. he is now*
*was appointed one of the Color*	*very sick, the Doctor & Chaplain*
*Guard, it is a lovely place*	*are both with him. He is an Irishman I think*

*from Lyons. I am very glad that*	*Soldiers, this I very much doubt*
*I have kept so well, I think my*	*Today one of our men was shot*
*Sickness in Auburn helped me*	*in the legs by the carelessness*
*Yesterday we pitched our tents*	*of one of the Guard. Tonight*
*& are again Quite comfortable*	*the Colonel put a stop to*
*again. I am now laying in*	*that he has forbid any private*
*, my tent, my Boots and stockings off*	*Fire arms to be carried, at*
*& coat, with my Blanket spread*	*all, To night we were*
*out, my Portfolio on my Knap-*	*on Battallion [sic] drill from*
*sack, writing, with a nice cool*	*3 to 5, the Colonel told us*
*breeze. There is one trouble about*	*that we did better, for the*
*this life, there is no Sunday[s]*	*time that we have been*
*To be sure, all the Drilling*	*drilled than any Regt that*
*we have today os Inspection at*	*he has seen. It is reported*
*8,30 AM Dress Parade 6, 15*	*that 60,000 Rebels are*
*I would give a great deal*	*on the way here.*
*if Charlie had come with*	*I dont belive it*
*me now, I think he could*
*fare better, than I thought*	*Write soon*
*he could, our Drummer is the*	*Love toa all*
*poorest in the Company. Please*	*Maggie Rosa Mother*
*send me my Razor & Brush when*	*& Charlie*
*you send me any things, as I need*
*to shave the boys. Send me an old*	*Manley*
*Tooth Brush to clean my Buttons*
*with & if you have a chance let me have*
*one of those papers of Cleaning Powder*
*in the Shed, to clean my Gun.*
*I do not think of any thing else.*
*It has been reported for several*
*days that we have marching*
*orders Cincinatti [sic] Ohio*
*& Bring in some drilled*

Facsimiles of this letter

In the Civil War timeline:

September 4th to 9th: Lee heads North towards Harpers Ferry with an invasion force of 50,000 troops.

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