Manley Stacey Civil War Letters

The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest

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Manley Stacey Civil War Letters

September 23, 1862

*Sep 23*	*At [Atoona] we changed Engines*
*Camp Douglas Ill*	*& staid there one or two hours*
*Chicago*	*Here the Citizens brought us out*
*Co D 111 Regt*	*some sandwiches & Coffee which*
*Dear Father*	*tasted good to us, after our rations*
*I suppose you would like*	*of salt Pork & Crackers. From there*
*to hear a little from me, again*	*we rode all night & arrived at*
*Last Tuesday night we had orders to*	*Pittsburg, about 5 AM, There we*
*cook three day rations, during the night*	*marched to a large hall and*
*The best of it was, our three Days rations*	*had our Breakfast, of Coffee*
*consisted of one ration of Beef & one of Potatoes*	*Crackers Sausages Cheese, & Pick-*
*At 3,30 wednesday morning we got up*	*els [sic], furnished by the Citizens*
*& prepared to march, & got the best break*	*Then took the Pittsburg Fort Wayne*
*fast we could under the circumstan-*	*& Chicago RR for Chicago. After*
*ces. Quite an amusing incident occurred*	*we got started, I got another*
*in the morning before we left, Some*	*Engine & fired again for a few*
*of the Boys, got a limb of a tree & stuck*	*miles. At New Brighton the Ladies*
*loaves of Bread, & some of our hard crack-*	*turned out, en masse, & brought*
*ers, they then formed in line, & marched*	*us [pris] cakes, apples & grapes*
*around the Ground to the musick [sic] of*	*A little maid brought me a nice*
*the Drum, it was a good sell*	*Loaf of Bread, already spread*
*on our Quartermaster, as he did*	*with Butter, I left my Card with*
*not furnish us all our rations.*	*her, At every little place as soon*
*We left the Camp about 6,30 for Annap*	*as the Train stopped, the Ladies*
*olis, there we took the Boat for Baltimore*	*Brought us Bread, [Pris] & Apples*
*After a very warm & uncomfortable*	*One thing is certain we are used*
*ride we arrived at Baltimore*	*better here, than we were even*
*about 2,30 PM, then after some delay*	*in our own State, Rode all night*
*marche'd to the Balt & Harrisburg RR*	*again, & got on the Engine 54*
*Left Balt at 9 AM, There I made friends*	*& fired a while to get an appetite*
*with the Fireman, & fired for him*	*for my Hard Tack, as the Boys*
*30 or 40 miles, had a good time*	*call the Crackers, We arrived*
*with him, We arrived at Harris-*	*at Fort Wayne, about 9 AM*
*burg about 6 AM, There we changed*	*Then I got off, to have a good*
*Engines & started for Pittsburg [sic] I enjoyed*	*wash, There I met a young*
*myself very much on the trip*	*lady, who invited three or four*
*riding on top of the cars, from*	*of us over to get Breakfast*
*H to Pittsburg is a very hilly country*
*the Road runs along the bank*
*of the Susquehanah River*

*charging us nothing, left another*	*will, We have lost 8 or 10 men since*
*card, We left Fort Wayne about*	*we left Lyons, some of these*
*12, 30 AM, At Wausau the Ladies*	*were left on the Road, & will*
*turned out again & Brought*	*probably be sent on, Watters*
*us some good things, Some*	*has not been heard from yet*
*of the Young Ladies brought some*	*I hope he comes to Lyons*
*warm Tea & Coffee, for the*	*that you will get my watch*
*Sick, The Boys were all taken*	*They say here now that, we*
*sick all to [sic] once, so as to get*	*are going to Drill, tomorrow*
*some tea, In the afternoon*	*I do not see how we can drill*
*passed over some [ ]*	*According to our Parole, but then*
*We arrived at Chicago*	*we can see nothing here, nor*
*about 10,30 last night, then*	*know nothing but what we see.*
*marched up to our present*	*This is the greatest place for*
*Camp, arriving here about*	*Rumors, everything [heard] some*
*12 AM This Camp they say*	*thing,*
*will Accommodate 15000, men*
*it is a splendid place, if*	*Hoping to hear from you*
*it was clean, you can im-*	*soon, & that you will send*
*agine how clean it would*	*me $5,00 & oblige*
*be 8000 Rebel Prisoners liv-*	*Manly*
*ing here the last week*
*It is the strangest thing*
*thing [sic] in the the world to me*
*their sending us to this Camp*
*so far west, It has been*
*report [sic] in Camp for a week*
*past that we were going to*
*Minnesota to fight the Indians*
*I should much prefer that to*
*remaining here, I think we*
*will be exchanged, before*
*long, that is if they exchange*
*any more, which I hope they*

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