Manley Stacey Civil War Letters

Camp Pomeroy
Jan 1st 1863

Dear Father

Yesterday we had a considerable excitement on Picket, about 2 PM, the word was passed along the Lines, that the Pickets on our left were driven in. We then had orders to draw our loads, & get every thing ready to rally, at a moments notice. This story soon proved untrue.

Some of the 17th Penn Cavalry, saw some of our Cavalry coming across the River & they broke & ran. So there was no danger.

About 6 PM, a Porker crossed my Beat, & as we had no orders to let a man pass, Billy Waters Shot him, he was a splendid pig and weighed about 150 pounds. We cut him up & cleaned him, & then Skinned him.

About 3 AM this morning, the 27th Maine, relieved us so we marched back to Camp, with our pork, arriving at 4 AM. then we had 2 hours to sleep.

At 8 AM, we was ordered to be ready in a half hour, for Inspection & Muster. After a great deal of Swearing the boys, prepared. We had Just 1/2 an hour to Scour our Guns, black our Boots & pack Knapsacks, we made things fly for a short time. At 9 AM, we fell out, & was soon Mustered & Inspected.

About 11 AM, the Report came around the Camp, that we had Marching Orders, for Union Mills, tomorrow morning at 5 AM. You can Imagine how Mad we were. We had just got the Trunk, brought by Budlong, & had not got all the things out yet. And to make the Matter worse, the Col has forbid the boys to carry anything except in their Knapsacks & Haversacks. Now what in the world shall we do, we can not carry the Trunk’s & can not sell them. Granger says he will do all he can, to get it carried for us.

what a dinner we had to day, I would have given $5,00 if you could have seen us, what a Happy set.

I do not know how in the world we shall carry the things. And then to make the Matter worse, Catlin is promoted to Sergt. I am sick & disgusted, with the whole performance, What encouragement is there for a man to try to do anything, if he is to be trampled on, & run over by every Slink. What in the world is the matter with the Capt, we soon shall have a Lodus Administration here, The moment Green is Capt I will Desert, I never will stay in the Company. I shall not try to do any thing more in the Co. I have done more duty, than any other Corporal & this is the pay for it. I am sick & discouraged who can help it. I dont care what I do now.

All my things came right except the Oysters, they were spoiled. Budlong sent the Trunk to Alexandria, by Express, & we sent for it. He has not done just right about this.

I can not write a letter today, Now there is one thing the 24th Maine, is to be kept near W, while we are sent off. They are 9 months men, they are to be kept back, while we three Years men must be pushed forward. I am going right into the Rebel Lines & be taken Prisoner. Barney, Al, Aleck & myself have agreed on it. This kind of thing is played out.

Lt Crowl is going to get his discharge & will come home. My pants fit tip top, & I like then very well. I like the Diary, first rate, it is Just what I wanted. I have got several things, I would like to send home, if I could get a chance, but I am afraid I shall not.

We still have a great time here to night, [but] little sleep for us. where in the world we shall turn up next nobody knows. I never want any thing more sent from home. It does not pay. I will write as soon as I get settled. All Letters directed to Washington, will reach me

Love to all

Manley