Manley Stacey Civil War Letters

Camp Hayes

June 16th /63

Dear Father

I received two letters from you yesterday one dated the 4th & the other the 11th, in one of which I received some Stamps. You were much mistaken about the Privates, sharing in that Picnic, even I on Duty did not get anything. Nearly every Officer in Camp has Wife here, I have not spoken to Mrs Holmes yet, we see but little of her in the Company.

Things in Camp are moving on the same as usual. We had no Brigade Drill yesterday, for to tell the truth where was no Place to Drill, The Ground is all covered with Troops. The whole of Hookers Army, passed through here yesterday, except the 3d Corps, that with the Cavalry, is Guarding the RR, between here & Warrenton, to get Hookers supplies away, Hooker made his Head Quarters, at Fairfax Court House, yesterday, & today he makes it here.

In regard to Lee, The boys that came in yesterday, said we would have a Fight here before, tonight, but I think not, all the afternoon, we could see heavy clouds of Dust towards Bull Run, I think Lee, will move into Maryland & Hooker will follow him right up. I expect these Troops will leave here today. They look hard, having marched 25 miles a day, coming here.

I found several of my Schoolmates, in the 136th, NY, from Dansville, one Rev, Stephen Brown’s Son, that I was well acquainted with. Another by the name of Tousy, who is in the Signal Corps. Yesterday I saw, Maj Genl Howard & Carl Schurz, today I shall see Genl [S]ickles & most likely Hooker & his Staff. You can look no way from our Camp, without seeing the Ground covered with Troops, It is reported, that Lee has a strong Force, between here & Warrenton. I will write every day, till this is over, though I can not tell whether the letters will reach you

Love to all

Manley