Manley Stacey Civil War Letters

Barracks
No 3 Elmira
Sep 2nd 63

Dear Father

I suppose you will be looking for me home by this time, & if we had, had, an Officer today, I should have sent my Furlough in today. As it is I do not know when I shall get there. Our Capt went to New York, last night, & will not be back in a day or two. until he gets back, I can not get it through.

I wrote you last Thursday, that I expected to go to New York, Thursday night I was Detailed. We left here on Saturday morning at 5 AM, on the Cincinnatti Exp one hour behind time. We had on board 73 men mostly Substitutes.

We had no trouble going down. Arrived in Jersy City at 5 PM, took the Ferry across, then, marched to the Park, Barracks, then halted a few minutes, then went to Castle Garden, & took the Goot Boat to the Island.

After we started from here, 2 of our men got away. They got Citizens Clothes, some way, went in the Privy, changed their Clothes, dropped down in the River, & swam ashore. This was rough on us, as we were feeling so nice, about not loosing [sic] any men.

We arrived at the Island about 7 PM, & laid on a pile of lumber, till midnight, then went on board the Boat, & I slept till morning. We got back to the City about 7 AM, Went to Courtland St Hotel, left our things & got Breakfast, After Breakfast we went up to the Central Park & walked around until 1 PM, came back to Dinner, then went up to Greenwood Cemetry [sic] in Afternoon, In eve had good sleep.

Monday morning we went to Barnums Museum & on Board the California Steamer Illinois, In afternoon to the Five Points. We left the City yesterday morning at 7 AM & arrived here, after a pleasant trip at 4,20 PM, It is now my turn to have the first Furlough, I shall try very hard, to get it through tomorrow but cant tell anything about when I shall get home

Hoping to see you soon love to all

Manley