I got this off another discussion group. I suppose we could all imagine the
soldier one of our family writing this letter home at Christmas
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Happy Holidays...John & Linda Peterson, Ozona, Fl.
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Charleston Dec 24 1861
Dear Mother and Father
Tomorrow is Christmas, the day for turkey eating and Merry making and I
hope you will have a good time and enjoy yourselves. I did have it all
arranged that I was coming home to take my Christmas dinner with you, but as
it is now impossible I will write you a letter instead. Congress has ordered
all Regts. To be fitted up and Sedgewicke will be our Col. And Capt. Spencer
our Lt Cl. There are several candidates for Major, but I think Capt. Bodine
will get it.
Captain Spencer as Provost Marshal had to Superintend the Shooting
of a solder for disertion, a day or 2 since. He was blindfolded, made
kneel on his coffin. The Captain gave the signal by waving his handkerchief,
and in a moment the poor fellow was in another climate, He deserved his fate.
Since I have been paid off, I have been boarding at the Kanawha House,
the largest Hotel in the place. Am only going to try it a week, in order to
see how victuals cooked in civilized style taste. Another one of our co. died
a week or so since his name was Henry Hyan he was from Louisville, Ky
The Captain is going to give the boys a fine Christmas dinner tomorrow. We
have had the most beautiful Sunshiny weather imaginable for the last 2 weeks.
Something like May weather. The nights are fine and Moonlight. Our boys have
seized on all the liquor they could find in the town, and arrest every
Solder without a pass and everyone, either with or without a pass after
dark. So that the town has become in a measure quiet, and the ladies indulge
in an afternoon promenade occasionally- The most of them are Strong "Secesh"
The other day as two of them, finely dressed, were walking along, they has
to pass directly under the fine Silk flag the Woodward Girls presented to us.
One of them said " I'd rather die than pass under that flag!" So they
waded
through the
mud, and took the other side of the street.
The weather has changed today, now it is very cold trying to snow, and the
wind howling like a hurricane, I am glad it is snowing for it doesn't look
like Christmas unless it is Snowing or there is Snow on the ground To be in
time. I will wish you now " A Happy New Year" and May you all live to see many
of them. Mr.Folger, Mr Gibner, Mr Tounley and Mr Camenn came upon the last
boat and brought up a large number of boxes for the boys, and fruit cake,
pound cake plus other Christmas daintes are as plenty as blackberries in July.
Pies are made
here by the Darkys and sold for 10 cents apiece and washing is done by the
same individuals for 5 cents apiece. I got papers here only a day and a half
old from Cincinnati.
The news in the last paper is very incouraging. Kitty has just made
arrangements with a darky woman to have our cooking done. We are to take
our rations to her house, and she will cook them, and set the table in the
house
and allow us to eat there for 25cents a week, each (there is 12 of us)
Many of the residences here would compete favorably with those on Mount
Auburn. Nearly all the owners however are "Secesh". In one of the deserted
houses I got a splendid Beauraw, (is that spelt right!) With mirror
attached 2 chairs and a wash stand and basin, for the Captains office, I
haven't
rec'd a letter from you for nearly 2 weeks .
Give my respects to all inquiring friends. Frank