Manley Stacey Civil War Letters

The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest

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Manley Stacey Civil War Letters

September 21, 1862

Letter to Father

Annapolis Ma	*19 miles, then we staid until*
*Camp Parole*	*9 PM, getting our supper,*
*Sep 21st*	*We had a tip top time & found*
*Dear Father,*	*it a great deal easier than*
*I take this opportunity*	*walking. It cost us [125] a piece*
*of writing you a letter again*	*We got to Elliotts Mills about*
*We have had a lovely old*	*3 AM, then we laid until*
*time since our march*	*7 AM, There we got a pass*
*from the Ferry. That was one*	*for 12 to go by cars to Annap-*
*of the roughest time that I*	*olis, by Cars, Saturday we*
*ever had, talking about mar-*	*went to the Relay House*
*ches that was a rough one.*	*got there about 8, staid un-*
*After I wrote you at Monocacy*	*til 4 PM, from there to Annap-*
*Junction, we left the next morn-*	*olis Junction, staid there all*
*ing, for Baltimore, as we thought*	*night, coming on here yes-*
*but it turned out it was for*	*terday morning, getting here*
*Annapolis. The first days mar-*	*about 6 hours in advance*
*ch from Frederick, towards*	*of the Regt Today it is*
*night I fell out could go*	*reported that we are go-*
*no farther. I felt so tired*	*ing to Camp Douglas*
*that I could hardly move.*	*Illinois, & again it is rep-*
*The next morning we got up*	*orted that [each] Regt is go-*
*at 4 AM & caught up with the*	*ing to its own State. That*
*Regt, We started again at 8 AM, & about 5 I fell out*	*is almost to good to be*
*again, I could positively go*	*[true]. It seems that the*
*no farther. The next morning*	*Government is giving the*
*12 of us did not start with the Regt, we waited until*	*Cold Shoulder to us because*
*it got cool & they walked*	*we are prisoners, [Our] hav-*
*about 4 , miles, then hired*	*ing to march 125 miles.*
*a two horse lumber waggon [sic]*	*right on the line of the Balt*
*to take us to Elliotts Mills*	*& Ohio RR, & now sending*
	*us to Chicago. One thing*
	*is certain that we will*
	*be violating our parole*
	*to take up arms, I should*
	*not be surprised if they*
	*send us to the Frontier*
	*to Fight the Indians,*

*It makes but little dif-*	*the Boys tore down a Sutters*
*ference to me where we go*	*[tend] & destroyed & carried*
*if they only use us well.*	*off $3000 worth, it served them*
*If they only leave us some-*	*right. I told you not to send*
*where & not keep us moving*	*me any Tribunes, I am sorry*
*all the time, it would answer*	*because any thing in the*
*This morning, a lot of us boys*	*Shape of news is cut off.*
*went down the Chespeak [sic]*	*I suppose I must have*
*bay to go swimming, there*	*some mail in Baltimore*
*we got lots of Oysters, all we*	*but I do not know whether*
*cold eat & had a Salt*	*we shall get it or not*
*water Bathe, The only trouble*	*it is doubtful. Today*
*with our marching is we*	*all is Excitement in*
*get no chance to [march][?].*	*camp, all wondering where*
*I shall be glad when we*	*we are going too [sic] & what is*
*get settled so that I can*	*going to be done.*
*get some news from you*	*I send this letter by Mr*
*It is so long since I have*	*Cookingham, father to our*
*heard form you, When you*	*[2d] Sergeant.*
*write please send some*	*Hoping to hear from*
*money in small bills*	*you very soon when*
*As we can not live on*	*we get settled*
*our Rations, alone, it is*	*I will write as soon as*
*impossible. I saved several*	*we do*
*things to bring home to Charlie*	*Love to all*
*expecting to come home, of*	*Maggie Rosa Mother*
*course if we were paroled*	*Charlie & Yourself*
*but I guess we will get*	*Manly*
*cheated I am better off*
*than most Boys*	*(do you [stay] at Lyons this Year)*
*I have got all my things*
& threw nothing away & most
*of the Boys did, some threw*
*everything away but the*
*clothes they have on,*
*Today the Boys had a*
*regular row on the ground*

Letter to Charlie

*Camp Parole*	*I also send you a Confed-*
*Sep 21st*	*erate Bill. If I had known*
*3 PM*	*that they would not have*
*Charlie*	*searched us prisoners at*
*I send you by Mr.*	*the Ferry, I would have*
*Cookingham, a Cap Box*	*brought more things along*
*full of Caps, three or four*	*I said in my last (next to last) that*
*Cartridges & a Grape Shot*	*I was sorry that you did*
*I had two or three pound*	*not come with me, but*
*Cartridges of powder, Cannon*	*when it came to the*
*powder, for you, I will*	*march, I tell you I was*
*keep them in case I do*	*glad, you never could*
*come, I had a [ring] made*	*have stood it, I said*
*from a mans bone in*	*in my last to Father, that*
*his [arm ], at the battle*	*I had got my watch back*
*of Seven Pines, it was*	*from Watters. Then I expected*
*a Union Man. I have*	*to get it, He was in town & had*
*seen a great many*	*shown it to some of the Boys*
*things that I would like*	*& said he was going to give*
*to have brought you, if*	*it to me. He did not come*
*I could, I shall have a*	*near me, & I began to think*
*seven Barrel Revolver*	*he meant to cheat me*
*for you when I get home*	*If Francisco is willing*

*I wish he would keep*	*other day, when we left the*
*$25 for me, of his money*	*Regt. We went into a Secesh*
*unless he returns the watch*	*House & got our dinners 7 of*
*Charlie I tell you, it was*	*us, they began to show what*
*rather exciting times the*	*they was & began to curse the*
*day before we surren-*	*Union, they charged us 30 cts*
*dered, the way the balls*	*a piece, we went off & paid*
*whistled around our*	*them nothing, told them*
*head's was a caution.*	*to charge it to Uncle Sam*
*I have seen a great many*	*I tell you the Secesh have*
*high times since I enlisted*	*to suffer, when the Boys [find]*
*& a great many good times*	*[it out]. Nothing does me more*
*Building up a big Camp*	*good than to go right [in]*
*Fire at night, & laying around*	*[&] ransack everything*
*it smoking & Singing. I*	*The only thing that made*
*have found boys that I know*	*me feel bad was having*
*from all parts here, the other*	*to bury our boys at the Ferry*
*day I [saw] [D ] [Billos], he*	*I had to see to that. I think*
*is Sergeant in one of*	*it is most probable that I*
*the Companies in the 126th*	*shall get a furlough to*
*Regt, I have also seen boys*	*come home where ever we*
*from Ohio & all over. I wish*	*go, at least I hope, so*
*you had been with us the*	*There has been a great deal*
	*of talk of sending us*
	*to Minesota [sic] to Fight the*
	*Indians*
	*I will write again*
	*as soon as we get settled*
	*Your's Manley*

Facsimiles of this letter

What is a Secesh? A Confederate soldiers or sympathizer

Camp Parole

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