Manley Stacey Civil War Letters

Camp Douglas
Chicago Illinois
Co D 111 Regt NYSV
Nov 5th

Dear Father

I do not know what to make of not getting a letter from home, in so long a time.  I have not received a letter since last Thursday, one week tomorrow.  that is hardly right considering that I wrote every day last week.  I do not know what to make of it.

there is but little news in Camp, now.  It seems to be the General opinion that we are going home, but when we can not tell, It is reported that Genl Tyler is ordered to Washington to be Court Martialed on account of our Drilling here.  It is said that we have broken our Parole & can not be exchanged.

I reported for Guard duty this morning & was excused, as there was corporals enough, I heard some Captains talking about it & they seem to think we shall return home & be disbanded, they do not think that we shall be exchanged.  It is reported here, that Genl Tyler, had orders 10 days ago for us to return home, & that he Telegraphed to Washington about our behavior & that the War Department, countermanded the order, & that we are to stay until we can behave ourselves, this I think is so.

Mr Sharp arrived here this morning, & found his boy pretty sick.   He is looking very bad & I do not think He could be moved home, even if he got a Furlough.  I hardly think he will Die, but I think he will be very sick.

 Albert Hunt is quite Sick to night with a Fever, I think he will be a Sick Boy. He has been complaining for several days past.  To day he went to the Hospital & to night I have been to see him, & he wanted me to tell his Father he was sick. I think he had ought to have a Furlough & shall speak to the Captain in the morning.

There is one man in this Company that you can not place any dependence in his letters, that is Charles McCumber¹, he is worse than Williams.

According to all reports I shall not get promoted to Warrens place, only to 4 or 5 Corporal.  I do not think I shall get up as high as that yet I do not think the Capt has forgot the Trunk Arrangement yet.  did he write you a letter about it.

I think a Dutchman by the name of Louis [Dryer] will be 4th Seargeant, that I think will be the [rig].  Any thing but having a Dutchman over me.  Dan Hutchings is in the Hospital now, I have but little sympathy for him.

I had quite a talk with Mr & Mrs Sharp to night about [Waters] & about things since we left home.  I have explained about my Watch to them.  I did not know there was so many stories about the Watch, that I wanted to make it all night.

What in the world is the matter of you that you do not write

My love to all & hope to see them soon

Manley