Manley Stacey Civil War Letters

Camp Chase
Near Washington
Dec 3rd /62

Dear Father

I wrote to you yesterday all the News I could hear, & more I will try again.

Yesterday afternoon We put up our Tents, They are called [Wedge] Tents & will Accomodate a Squad of 5 men. My Squad, has the following Boys in. G [W] Warren B Francisco W Waters & A Hunt.

There is a Rumor of our Going into Winter Quarters, near Alexandria. This is what, our Lieut says. You may be sure, is would please us. I think if we do, we shall go into some Fort, where the Accomodations would be better.

The 115, 125, 126 & the 39th Left here a few moments since, for Alexandria, there to take the Cars, for Manassas Cap, where they are going to do Guard Duty. The 126th got their Guns, last night at 10 PM.

We have got Marching Orders & will most likely leave here tomorrow. Our Quartermaster has gone to the City, for our Arms this AM. We are to have, the same we had before, the Springfield Rifled Musket. They are a Splendid little piece, but are hard to keep Clean & Bright.

Secretary Seward was up to our Camp, last night, his Daughter Nelly & another Lady was with him. He look [sic] a great deal older & paler than when I last saw him. He told us we must keep our Arms this time & not let them be taken away. He said [he] has furnished Arms for both Armies so far I hardly know what we shall do yet, but I think we shall pretty soon.

Our boys would not object to Guarding a Rail Road, there we could take some Comfort, & fix up a little.

We got our Horses yesterday & Baggage Waggons [sic]. we have got some old Cavalry Horses. They have not been hitched up together & make nice work. Just as I am writing this, I saw a Funeral Escort, The Band playing a March, & the boys marching with Arms Reversed. This is one of the Sadest [sic] Sights, we have to see, Bringing the Boys so far away from home. You would be surprised if I should tell you that we, our Co, only muster 44 men, fit for Duty. There is a great many of our Boys sick. And then there is another thing, four out of the Six men we have lost, both that have died & were killed, were out of my Squad at the Ferry. Little did I think so many of us would Die.

You should see me this morning, writing in Front of a Tent by a little Fire, in a pan, writing this. I tell you it is some of an Effort to write here, It is quite cold here this morning, with a cold wind Blowing. I am in a hurry, for those Boots to come. These are all, breaking out, & are not fit for muddy weather. Army Shoes are not fit for the mud here.

To day the Boys are Cooking their two days Rations. How are you going to send the Trunk, by Williams, or how will you. I do not think he would bring any thing for me. Barney I think will be one of the Buglers, I spoke to the Chief Bugler about him, & he says if he will suit he will have him. It is a nice place for a man, especially in Battle[s]

Hoping to hear from you soon

Manley