Manley Stacey Civil War Letters

Camp Hayes

Feb 20th 7 PM

Dear Mother

I received yours of Monday, this PM, after Batallion Drill & was glad to hear from you again.

You ask me about how I came to owe so much money, it is this way, I bought the Revolver, for $4,00, & Two Shirts of one of the Boys, at $2,00 a Piece, that [threw] me a little behind. This is Square now, & I shall take good care, never to owe any more Money, while in the Army. the reason why I sent $15,00 home, I thought Father would need it all, If I had not thought he would have needed it, I would have kept it more. Capt Seeley of Co A, came from Washington yesterday, & he says we shall be paid off again the first of next month, If so then I shall hope to do better.

Feb 21st 8AM

This is our Holiday, & washing day, you may be sure we are not sorry. It takes a whole day to get ready for Inspection, We have to black our Boots, clean up the Buttons on our Coat, Black our Cartridges Boxes, & Belt, & altogether have a great deal to do. I have given up writing once this morning, as I could think of no News, I think I will send this Note, by Mr Baker, who returns with the remains of his Son. Enclosed I send 2 Cartridges for Charlie. I have nothing to send Home, if I had would send it. I will write again as soon as there is any news.

Love to all

Manley

Miss Rosa

I think you are shaming Charlie by writing such good Letters, he will have to hurry up Matters, of I will disown him. I have not found the Venus yet, & am afraid I shall have to wait until I get to Beaufort or farther South. It would not look well to send a Nig from here.  Well I must close, lots of work to do today. Kiss Maggie for me & tell her Manley sent his Love.

Manley

Feb 21st 6,30 PM

I did not send any thing Home this AM, by Mr Baker, for the very good reason, he was not going to Lyons, but intended stopping at Newark. There is a Dearth of News just now in Camp, nothing going on. The officers, now in Camp, nothing going on.

The Officers, now have, Caps all alike, with Gold Brown on they are very Stylish. If I am Promoted to Sergt, I shall have to get me a nice Military Cap, as the one I now have is getting rather Shabby, it having seen over 6 months active Service. Just to think, the 6th of next month, we will have been in Service 7 months, 2 years & 5 months more. These will be one joyful day for Co D, & that is when we are mustered out of the Service. All agree to that.

Tomorrow is Inspection, today we have been preparing for it, & fixing up the Tent, & now we are all sitting around the Candle, writing Home.

Monday is Picket duty again, I rather like that, it is better than staying in Camp. Tomorrow, the 22d, is Washington’s Birthday, 22 Guns are to be Fired from the Battery, in Honor of it.

Tonight we have all been wondering what we were doing one year ago tonight, I have come to the Conclusion, that I was taking a Trip down the Central, & a little dreaming of even being here. We have all wondered how we would like to go in Lyons, I thought I would like to go in church, when Father was preaching & take a Seat with You, do you think he would stop, or wouldnt he mind so much. any rate I would like to try him. I should be a little afraid of you. Whenever I come home, If I ever come, it will be unexpected, I would like to take you by Surprise, & step in just in time for supper, if It would not be too much trouble.

The Col undertook to compel us, not to buy any thing from any other Sutler, but our own. He would not let the Boys go out, except for water & then only at one place. that would not work however, the Boys wanted Water too often. there are 4 or 5 other sutlers on the Place, & the boys will not Patronize him.

We hear nothing more about moving, guess it is Played out, we dont hope so however, we are anxious to move some where or other, dont care much where

Hoping to hear from You soon

Manley

Charles Henry Augustus Stacey

Well Charlis I must write a few lines to you I suppose, though I have not heard from you in some time. what in the world is the Matter with you, why don’t you write me a good long Sesible letter. Now just try it, all the news. I am still as lazy as ever, & hope this letter will find you in the same situation.

Charlie did I ever describe our Child of the Regt. He belongs to Co F, is only 6 feet 7 inches high, & is the most over grown specimen of humanity I ever saw. The boys call him Dutch.

I think our Sutler will close up Business before long, the Boys are Drawing every thing away from him. Since he has been here the boys have taken away from him, 2 cheeses, 300 Plugs of Tobacco, 3 Boxes of Cakes & lots of other things, So you see his profits are reduced a Little.

We have great times nights, after Taps, singing, you can hear it all over the Regt. One Song is, sung a great deal here the Battle Prayer of freedom. Have you got that Catalogue of Songs yet, if so send it to me, if not send me one of the Songs.

We have got 4 Drummers now in the Regt, the youngest about your size, & is the Pet, of, them all. The Drummers life here is not so easy here, two of them have to go on Picket every time, so to Beat the Rally in Case of trouble. You may congratulate yourself on being out of this, you are better off at Home.

Well I must close Tattoo
Good night
Charlie

M T Stacey

Feb 22, 7,30 AM

Charlie when I wrote you last night there was no snow on the Ground, now there is 8 inches on a Level & snowing fast. Thank God I am not on duty today.

Al & I have just got our Breakfast, while the others are laying sleeping. This is a lovely day.