Manley Stacey Civil War Letters

Camp Pomeroy
Dec 25th -/62
9 AM

Dear Father

I read you letter of the 22d last night & was very glad to get one at that time. Last night I was on Brigade Guard, so had to stay up all night. I have just been Excused, & will now write a little. This was the first time that I have had to Guard Secesh Property, & hope it will be the last.

The 4th Delaware 115th NY, are ordered to Fort Monroe. The 27th Maine & the 111th NY are to remain here. The Colonel told us boys this morning , that most likely we should stay here. I know that we are to finish this Fort, & then I think by present appearances that we shall go into the Fort when Finished.

The boys have gone out on Fatigue Duty today.  they did not like the Idea of working on Christmas, but it could not be helped. The colonel was in very good Humor this morning, he told the Boys, he would like to give them a Holiday to day, but he could not give it to them.

We have not recd the Trunk that Aleck brought. he left it at Washington, as he could not carry both up with him. Mr [Bradlong] has not arrived here yet, we hope to see him to day, in time for Dinner or Supper. I shall let you know just as soon as the trunk arrives. The Trunk will come very convenient here to keep things in.

I hope Moore will write to the Capt before long, I know of no one over me in the Line of Corporals, that I am afraid of, all that troubles me is Greens working for Catlin for Sergt. There will be trouble if this happens as Catlin is not at all popular with the Co. He has borrowed a great deal of Money in the Company, & never will pay his Debts, he has also been caught in the act of getting our Rations of Coffee & Sugar, & selling them.

Dreyer is playing himself out in this Company, he has been blowing a great deal, about the Commissioned Officers, drawing our Rations, & using them. He is not near as popular in the Co, as he was.

The First Corp. Hutchins has been playing for a Discharge since leaving A. 2nd Dawes, has been Sick almost all the Time. 8th [L….], has been Sick a great deal, 4th Pulver never has done anything, & then comes [MTS].

I wrote a letter to Philip Clouses Father to day, I can not tell whether Phil, has got any Money or not at any rate he will not need any until he is getting better. Peter Crowl is at No 421, 11th St, I am in hopes, I shall get a pass to go & see him. I do not think he ever will go with the Regt again,, he will most likely stay at the Hospital. Clouse has been taken to the Small Pox Hospital at Washington, so I shall not be able to see him.

I need not tell you how glad I would be to come home to the [Donations] But there is no such good news for me.

The Rabit [sic] Skins are not Dressed, but I think they could be used.

You asked me how Chaplain Brown is, I can not tell, as I see him so seldom, we have Religious Services about once in two months. He is a lovely Chaplain.

Our Camp as about 3 miles South west of Alexandria, It is in Sight of the city. The route from the Dock, is up King St, then turn to your left, by the AMRR, Engine House & from there the Road is Straight. If you will drop a line, I will meet you at the dock. Our Army Waggons are running to & from every day. It is but a Short walk for me now.

I have got a pair of Leggings for Charlie, as I have two pairs. I think he will like them.

We had Dress Parade, this PM, the best we have ever had. Segoine presented McDougal & the Regt with a Splendid Flag from Gov Morgan from NY. It was one of the Four that was presented, to the First Four Regts under the Last call. As we were one of the four, we got a Splendid Blue Flag, The boys are all proud of it. You had ought to have heard the Col, praise his noble Boys of the 111th.

7 PM. There is no [Pass] to have the Lights Extinguished until 10 PM, the boys are having great times. They are going to have a Dance, on the Parade Ground. It is warm enough to go with out a coat. The Boys all feeling well. Some of the Boys dressed up like an elephant & called on the Colonel.

Our Pickets were attacked last night, some 10 or 12 men were killed. If our men had not repulsed them, in five minutes more, we would have been ordered out. I think we shall get rid of Picket Duty, for a while. All the Talk here now is, about our being turned into Heavy Artillery. Dont we hope it will be so.

I wish Charlie was here to night he would enjoy himself tip top. While I am writing this, I can hear 5 or 6 Violins playing, all are feeling well.

Our Trunks are not come yet, but hope they will soon

Manley