Manley Stacey Civil War Letters

From the collection of the Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest, Illinois

August 13, 1863

Elmira Barracks No 1
Aug 13th 2 PM

Charles Henry Augustus

I hope you arrived home safe, & had as a pleasant Trip down the Lake, as we had up. I suppose you got Home about 2 PM, yesterday, & not have to Drive hard at that. I came through all right that night, had a pretty good sleep on the Cars, It was pretty Dark when we got in, but I managed to find my way to the Barracks.

I have done nothing since I have been here, but lay around. This morning I went to the City, but there is nothing going on here. We have a Col in Comand of our Barracks who is trying to put on Style. He Ordered yesterday the Detachments to Drill, only 2 Drilled out of 16, I could not see the Drill.

I think if they do not soon have Different Arrangments here before long, that my chances will be poor for coming home again. We have 2 Boys here that have not been home yet, & if they only let one go at a time it will be 20 Days before my time will come again. No one knows what will turn up in that time. I hope however we shall have Different Arrangements, next week, when the Major of the 98th takes Comand.

I shall expect you Saturday night, & will be at the Depot to meet you, Tell Mother to Bake me, a Cake, currant Cake. If you come you had better start in the morning, so the Horse can rest at Geneva, then who ever comes with you Drive him back when it is Cool. I think you will enjoy yourself here, We have got a few [Students], here, as the Boys call the Conscripts, they are a peacable set, dont offer to leave us.

Tell Mother the Pillow is Bully, I have to lay on it all the time to keep it.

Hoping to see you soon

Yours
M T Stacey

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Manley Stacey

born October 29, 1842

died December 26, 1863

Written during the battle of Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863

"When we camped last, we could see the wounded coming in, those that were able to walk, and the cavalry horses coming in riderless. This showed us that something was going on...I think this will be an awful battle very soon and of course we are in for it...It is a sad sight to see the wounded brought in on stretchers, the poor boys all covered with blood & as pale as death.

"Last night at 4 PM we were ordered to march and form in Line of battle on our left. After a great deal of confusion, we got formed and then we were ordered to advance, right in the face of the rebel guns who were firing their grape and canisters into us by wholesale...After a great deal of marching and counter marching, we were ordered to charge on a rebel battery. We were now right in front of our canons, advancing on their guns, the rebel sharpshooters in our rear picking off our officers. This was an awful time the shells taking the men down by ranks. While we were marching, a man was shot, and the Blood was spilling all over my face, it perfectly Blinded me.

"At 1 PM we were shelled by 100 guns, all concentrated on the force supporting the battery. There we laid behind a stone wall, the shells passing over us and killing the men all around me. Three men were killed and thrown across me, covering me with blood. While we were laying here, a shell struck a stone in the wall and killed a man throwing the man across my legs and the stone striking me in the back & doubling me up.

"We have got about 18 men now in the Company fit for duty and 150 in the Regiment. We went in the fight with over 400, and have yet now 150."

The Letters

Other Letters and Documents

Letter from Althea Yager to Stacey - January 22, 1863

Letter from L. M. Stout to Stacey - March 9, 1863 Letter from S.R. [Gr...] to Stacey’s Parents [?]

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