Manley Stacey Civil War Letters

Camp Hayes
May 21st 1863

Dear Father

I received your letter of the 15th, yesterday, & was glad to hear things look so favorable, for your visit, & hope you now will get started in earnest. I do not know who will take Dreyers place, I know who is Lieut Greens choice.  Green says I am entitled to it. I am in a peculiar position now, if I am in the Color Guard, I have things a great deal easier, but if I thought there was a chance for Promotion, I should want to stay in the Co, so between the two, I hardly know what to do.

We had an awful time yesterday. In the morning we finished up the Breast Works, & in the afternoon at 4 PM we marched down to the Review Ground, & had a very hard Drill, then to wind up we charged Bayonets, down a Gully, through Brush, Sticks & all kinds of Rubbish. The Brush was so thick, only one man could get through at a time. After we had charged through here, twice, we Double Quicked it in to Camp. It was very hard, but I did it easier than before.

After we had got to Camp, the Col, Called for three cheers, for the Men that could Double Quick a mile, while the boys were cheering, his horse became frightened, & threw him off. After the 3 hours Drill, we had Dress Parade at 6,45 PM.

I will try & get a Pass, for Union Mills on Saturday, to meet you, all that would be necessary would be for the Col, to sign it, & that I could easily get. I do not think I should have much trouble in getting a pass for Washington. Charlie Cookingham, tried yesterday to get a pass for W. but the Col, told him he could not sign it for a day or two as we were under Marching Orders again. Some think that we shall get to the Front & some of the Militia take our place here, I am not much alarmed about this however Nor shall I care, if you only come down before we start. After your visit, I would rather go to the Front, than not. It would be easier for [us] as we would have a good deal less Drilling

I shall hope to see you here, on Saturday

Love to all

Manley

Camp Hayes
May 22d /63
8 PM

Dear Father

I received your letter of the 18th, this PM, & will answer it this PM. I hope you succeed in getting started, if not this week come as soon as possible.

I like the idea, of the Ladies coming, for I think it will do them a great deal of good. Mother especially. She then would see how we live, & then would rest easier. Besides, it would be a great change. As for the Furlough during the Summer, such a thing might be possible, but I think, it rather doubltful. They are granting but few Furloughs, in the Brigade. If things settle down in Virginia, it might be possible, but that will not be done, just yet.

We are having a great many Visitors in Camp, just now, they keep coming, every day, that looks but little like having trouble, about Passes. I do not think I will go to the Mills tomorrow to meet you, things do not look deffinite [sic] enough about your coming, If the Ladies come, they had better come all the way & not stop at Washington, for if we should not be able to get Passes, it would be quite a Disappointment. I do not think I should have any trouble, about a Pass, for Washington, they Boys are getting them every day. At any rate I shall hope to see you soon.

There is but little news in Camp tonight. We are having very warm weather now, I had a talk with the Chap, today, he told (me) he did not think we should leave this Camp for 2 months to come, some Troops must be kept here & he thought we should stay.

May 23d 6,30 AM. There is no extra news this morning

Hope to see or hear from you soon

Love to all

Manley

May 26th 6,30 AM

Dear Mother

We have been in so much excitement for the past few days, that I have not written as much as I should have done. I was very glad, on Saturday, to see Father. I had just been down in Swimming, & had washed my Shirt, & had nothing on but my Blouse. I was looking rather rough, but then they could see how we work it. Every day, since they have been here, we have run around the Country. I think Father has enjoyed his visit, very much. The Col has been very kind he has excused me from Duty every day, & has signed our Passes for Washington. I am very glad they have come down, it has done me a great deal of good, both the rest & the visit. I am expecting a great deal from my Trip to Washington, & think the change, will benefit me, At any rate, I shall feel more like doing my Daily Duty.

I should have been very glad, to have seen you here, & think the change would have done you a great deal of good. I had no idea you thought of coming, or I should have written & urged it before. I think I shall succeed in getting a Furlough in August, that is if we remain in this Camp. Then I shall have be 21 in August also. I am very much obliged for the things you sent, the Sugar, Tea, Stockings, Collars &c &c. all of which I wanted. I am now equipped for the Summer, I suppose Father has told you all about his Travels. There is one thing that I am sorry about that is, that we could not go on the Bull Run field.

Love to all
Will write soon again

Manley

Camp Hayes

May 29th 8 PM

Dear Father

Well we here in Camp again, which makes me feel at Home again. After you left last night I got my supper, & went around the City a little, then Slept at our Boarding house all night. This morning the first thing, after Breakfast, we went up to the Provost Marshals, to get our Pass, to cross the River. The office was closed up so we made up our mind’s to run the risk of the one we had. Then we got our Figures & letters. We then met Capt Perry of Co B, at Williards, who told us we could go on the Train from Alexandria, at 3 PM.

So we concluded to take the 1 oclock Boat, & look around the City a little. We then went to Mr Tafts, at the Patent Office. we then went through there, From there we went to the Smithsonian Institute. There we had a splendid time, I was very sorry that you had not visited there. At 1 PM we took the Boat for Alexandria, & had a very pleasant trip across the River. At 3,15 PM, we took the Cars, & arr at the Mills about 5 PM. We arrived in Camp about 6,45 PM, walking all the way.

Things are all right in Camp. On Monday next, we have got to move our Camp, over by the Mass Battery. You know where we saw the Brass Pieces. The Col, thinks it is healthier down there. In the City today, Capt Perry, told us, that it was reported, that Brig Genl Hays, had Marching Orders for Louisiana & he thought the Brigade would go with him. The Chaplain says there is nothing in this that we have only got to move a short distance.

May 30th 5 AM. I have just had a good nights rest, & feel a little better. Byron & Albert, have got to go on Picket today, The boys are all well, but very tired. We are to be paid off, next Tuesday, so we are in plenty of time. My visit to the City has done me a great deal of good, I am very glad you came down here, both on my account & yours. I met Dr Vosburg in Alexandria, last night, on his way to the City. Mr Millard did not charge me anything for Board, they invited me to come there & stay, when ever I came to the City.

Hoping you will return home all safe, & will soon recover from your Trip. Love to all

Manley

Camp Hayes
May 31st 5,30 PM

Dear Father

Well I have settled down to duty again, & am feeling much better than before the Trip. If it has done you so much good as it did me, I am sure, there was no money wasted.

I wrote you yesterday, that we were to move, our Camp, on Monday, Things look now as if we should remain here. Both Officers & Men’s Quarters are fixed up comfortable, & no one, desires to do the work over again. We shall know however tomorrow. I think we shall get our Pay this week, when I will send you home $10,00 at least.

Yesterday afternoon some Rebels were seen outside our Lines, both on the Warrenton Road, & at Bull Run. They Fired into a Train, about 4 miles above, Union Mills & Burned up some 20 Cars at Manassas Junction. Genl Hays, thinking they might come this way, ordered out the whole Brigade, last night, midnight, So we marched up to the Breast Works & laid there until Day Light this morning. We had Co Inspection, this morning instead of Regimental. It is a wonder that we did not have the regular Inspection.

There is nothing new in Camp, today, everything quiet.

When we returned from Washington, half of our things were gone, Williams had Drawn our Bread & sold it. My Papers had all been opened & everything scattered around. If we ever change our Camp, he will not be in the Squad, with me, Almost all of the Officers, have got their Wifes here now. I have not spoken to Mrs Holmes yet, nor am I in any hurry too.

June 1st 5,30 AM. Just had a pretty good night to rest, & am feeling tip top. I shall hope to hear from you soon. when you get a chance to send anything, send me a box of Blister Ointment. I heard the other day that by putting, some of this Ointment, on the Face, & let it raise a Blister, & let it dry off, it would make the Face a great deal smoother,

Write soon
Love to all

Manley

Camp, Well I don’t know what
Near Centerville Va

Dear Father

This has been a day of excitement, this morning at 7, we received Orders, to be ready to move, at 8 AM, with Knapsacks & Haversacks, At 8 we fell out, & Stacked our Arms, then Struck our Tents, pulled down our Lumber, preparatory to removing our Camp.

We are now, near the Stone Mill Road, back of the 9th Mass Battery. The Camp will do very well, but it does not commence with our old one. But the worse is to come, We have changed our Position in Camp, We now are in Co B’s place, on the left of the Regiment. This is the worst place in the Regt, it is the hardest on the march, & is a very undesirable position. The reason why we changed, is this, Capt of Co A, is 1st Senior Capt, so he has the right, Capt Holmes, is 2nd Sen, Capt, so he has the left & so on. As soon as Capt Seely of Co A is promoted then we take the Right. It will take us some time to learn our new places,

The Paymaster arrived today, so I think we will get our Pay, tomorrow or next day. So you see, where we have some trouble, we have some pay to counterbalance it.

did you hear while here, that Granger, was to be Court Martialed. He is, for giving the Countersign, to Dreyer & others,

Jun 3d 5,15 AM. We have had a nice Shower during the night, the Air is cool now & pleasant. They sign the Pay Roll today, so tomorrow for the Money. I shall hope to hear from you soon, Will write as soon as anything turns up.

Love to all

Manley

Camp I don’t know What, near Union Mills
June 3d /63
9,30 AM

I suppose you will be rather anxious to hear where we are & what we are doing, so here goes.

We left Camp Pomeroy yesterday at 10 AM, & marched to Alexandria, & then took the Cars, on the Alexandria Military RR. There we laid in the Cars until about 7 PM, waiting for we know not what. We ran very slow all the way, & could see wrecks of Cars, all along the Road, the works of our Friends, the Rebels. When we arrived here, we formed in line, & then marched about a mile west towards where the 126th, NY, is encamped. Then we Stacked our Arms, [unstrung] Knapsacks, & prepared for a Nights Rest in the open Air. We slept very well until 7, this morning. We managed to live very well, with the nice things in the Trunk.

I will tell you how we managed to get the Trunk carried, the night before we left, we sent a nice Turkey & a Frosted Cake to the Colonel, with a note, telling who it was from. I will send you the note I got in reply. The Colonel came around to the Officers Quarters & told the Capt, to have the boys, pack up their things & mark them plain, with Co & Regt & he would see that they were Carried. So we went to work & packed the best Trunk full, & marked it, & it was brought with us. We had a high old time the night before we left, I wish you could have seen us. The other Trunk I lent to one of the boys to bring his things in.

I got a Letter yesterday from John Voak, in answer to one I wrote, I will send it.

We are now about 2 miles north east of the Famouos Bull Run Battle Field, I shall most certainly, go up there as soon as possible. The 126th Boys, say you can see the Bones laying all around there, & some have found Guns & Pistols. I shall look pretty Sharp for these. I can not tell how stong Force there is around here, not very I think. This is getting right into the Enemys Country, I do not think there will be any great engagement, though we may have a little Skirmishing. Our Duty here will be mostly Picket, both on the RR, & Camp Picket.

Now I have a little Question to ask you. have you any objection to my being a Corporal fo the Color Guard. But first I will explain the Duty. Every Color Bearer, has 8 Corporals, for his Guard, their Duty to protect him, only to fire in his defense, & the moment he is Wounded to sieze the Colors, & carry them. I think I could get the State Banner, to carry If I wanted to. I have been Color Guard twice now, but will not go into it for good until I hear from you. The Color Sergt calls me his right hand Man. I know this is rather a Dangerous position, but then it has its advantages, When I was regular detailed, I should have no Extra or Picket Duty. This would be a great deal. But then It shall be as you Say.

It is played out this fixing up Quarters every two weeks, I have done it for the Last time. Our old [Thing] of Colonel, Segoine (it is reported) had Resigned, Dont we hope it is so. It is reported here that Burnside is going to make this place his Head Quarters. I hope this is not so.

Barney & I packed up a Box to send home, in that I sent a few Things, among then was my Diary, I do not know when we shall get a chance to send it. I have not resigned my position yet, nor will I until I hear what you think of Color Guard. I was disappointed in not getting a letter from home last night. I do not know where we shall camp yet, probably not far from where we now are. I wish you would let me know when this war is settled, & how it is settled. I am rather anxious to hear how the Donation went off, & how much you realised.

Hoping to hear from you soon. Love to all

Manley

Direct my Letters to Washington DC
The QM, is inquiring around, who wrote that Letter, if he finds out I shall be Court Marshialed & Reduced

Manley

Camp Hayes
June 4th 1863
7,30 PM

Dear Father

I received your latter of Saturday last night, annoncing your safe arrival home. I am glad you got through all right, & found things, all well at Home.

We have hardly commenced doing Duty yet, in our new Camp, The boys are fixing up their Tents, & the Streets are yet to be Graded, & Ditches are to be dug, so that we shall not be ready, to work, or get settled down, before next week. We were expecting to be paid off today. I hardly know, whether we shall or not. The Paymaster, has made some mistake about the Allottment Roll, so that he had to send to Washington.

I have had a lovely old Boil, on my Back, for a Day or two past, the first I have ever had.

Co’s B & L, leave here, today, to Guard the Rail Road, at Fair Fax Station. This is Just the kind of work that I would like. For then you are free from the restraints of Camp. I wish you could see, my Bunk, here, It is a Bed Tick, nailed on a couple of poles, & is a great deal better than laying on the Ground.

We now are having the Warm days & cold nights. last night, we all came near Freezing. Enclosed I send a letter from Rev Mr Brown, of Dansville. I intend writing him a letter, giving an account of my visit to the Smithsonian Institute. What has become of Mr Holt, I have not heard from him in a long time. The Boys are getting 10 Day Furloughs in the Regt now. The Col, has gone home for 20 Days, when he returns, we are to have Scotts Band. This is settled. Now we will feel better.

There is nothing going on in Front of us, everything quiet, out side the Lines. When I get the Pay, I will send a $1,00 for which I want some Stamps, I will write just as often as, there is any news

Love to all
Kiss Maggie for Me

Manley

——————–

Camp Hayes
June 4th /63
7,30 PM

Dear Father

Enclosed I send you 10,00, & a 1,00 Bill, that I want you to get me a 1,00 worth of Stamps & send on immediately, as I am nearly out. We received our Pay, this PM, about 4, & of course were not sorry to get our $26,00. Write me just as soon as you receive this.

June 5 6,15 AM I think I will send $5,00 in this, & 5,00 tomorrow. I can think of nothing to write, there is nothing going on. Major Lusk has got his Silver leaves, & is now acting as Lieut Col. We hear nothing about the Major.

I will write again tomorrow

Love to all

Manley

Camp Hayes
June 6th /63

Dear Father

Enclosed please find $5,00, which I hope you will get without any trouble. We have been very fortunate this week, in regard to Drilling, All we have Drilled was Monday. Major Lusk, has command of the Regt, that accounts for it. One other thing he has done, that is reduced the No of Camp Guard & let the boys go out & come in, when & where they please. The Boys all wish he had command of the Regt, we then would have easier times. the Major does no [sic] believe in rushing things through so fast.

Yesterday 5 company’s out of the Regt, went out towards Warrenton, on a Scout. It was reported here, that, White had 2000 Gurillas, between him & Warrenton, So the General would sign no Papers for Washington, or to leave Camp at all. The Companies returned this morning, from the Scout, they brought back 5 Rebs. B & C, left yesterday, for Fair Fax Station, I only wish it had been our Company.

There is no extra news in Camp, today, only it is a settled thing that we are to have the Band.

Hoping to hear from you soon

Love to all

Manley

Travelers Home
Camp Hayes
June 7th /63
10,30 AM

Charles Henry Augustus Stacey
My Ancient Friend

Sir

I now take my Pencil in hand, to let you know that I am well & hope these few lines will find you, enjoying the same earthly blessing. My Daughter is well & so is the Powltry. Sir we are having a spell of weather here now, which may or may not last.

I am laboring under a Di, fic, il, ty, whether to write you a letter, or to sleep, probably the Former. Which will be Continued if my Cigar does not go out.

Sir De Question of de Times, am, yes de subject of de Times am, When de Pilgrim Humans, first Landed in America, what did dey do, Yes My Fellow Prisoners what did they do, answer in the next weeks Ledger.

Now to renew the Subject. I am feeling tip top today, instead of Drilling in the Company this morning, I took the respoinsibility of Drilling Ben Finch, one of our men who deserted at the Ferry & has just returned.

I am Officer of the Day, in our Tent, today, so run things. In regards to things in Camp, & our Position, we are on the left of the Regt, & the left of the Co, right back of our Tent is the Stables, where we have some 10 or 12 mules, who favor us with a Serenade, every night, I tell you it is delightful to be awakened, from a sound sleep, by such delightful Music. One of them in particular, has a fine ear for Music.

5 PM. I have just come in from Battallion Drill, Harvey & I have made $2,00 a piece today. We bought a new Watch, for $14,00, & this afternoon sold it for $18,00.

Yesterday I broke the Main Spring to my Watch, & so you see, I have made enough today to get it fixed. Things are looking here now as if we might have a little brush here, but we may not have that pleasure.