Thought I would put a few more things from the Dear Transcript book.
In the 8 Aug. 1861 paper a letter from Camp Keyes, Washington, DC 31 July 1861 written by John T. Phillips of Woodstock:
"To
the
Editor
of
the
Transcript:-- With
regard
to the
engagement
at
Bull
Run
on
the
21st
-
There
can
be
no
questioning
the
fact
that
we
fought
against
a
force
greatly
superior
to
ours
in
number
from
6
A.
M.
until
5
P.
M.
driving
them
from
some
of
their
strongest
batteries,
that
the
arrival
of
reinforcements
to
the
rebel
forces
compelled
us
to
retreat,
that
many
of
our
regiments
retreated
in
disorder
and
that
though
obliged
to
retreat
we
left
more
than
twice
the
number
we
lost
from
our
ranks
of
the
enemy
dead
and
wounded
on
the
field;
also
that
our
soldiers
were
suffering
extremely
for
food
and
water
having
left
Centreville
at
2
o’clock
A.
M.
with
only
a
scanty
supply
of
dry
bread
and
many
of
them
were
without
water
even
before
they
reached
the
field.
To
show how much our men suffered for water that day, I will only say
that we drank from a muddy pool of water deeply tinged with the blood
of the dead and wounded who had crawled to its banks in hopes of
quenching a thirst more painful than were the wounds from which the
life blood was flowing.
As
we
were
passing
this
point
Maj.
Warner
of
the
3d
Regiment
ordered
one
of
his
men
to
hand
him
a
cup
of
water.--
“It
is
muddy,
and
there
is
blood
in
it,”
says
the
man.
“Will
it
run
out
of
the
cup?”
“Yes.”
“Then
give
me
a
cup
and
be
quick.”
In the 21 Nov. 1861 paper: Part of a letter from Capt. Thomas Briggs of Danielsonville who was with the great expedition:
The Storm: "On Friday the 1st Nov. there arose a tremendous gale and scattered the fleet. I don't know what vessels or exactly how many men were lost, but I tell you it was an awful night; may I never see another such a one; I was so seasick that I could hardly sit up at all, and about midnight the ship got in the trough of the sea, and everything that was not lashed fast to something, was sent flying about the decks and cabin. We shipped a great sea as the sailors call it, and in the cabin were officers, servants, trunks, and lamps and glass ware, chairs, and it seemed to me hogsheads of water, rolling and tumbling about in one promiscuous heap; it woke me out of a sort of a stupor that the sea sickness had put me. I jumped or fell out of my berth, I don't know which, and found myself holding on to the side of the cabin, but I was more amused than frightened, and the ship righting itself very soon I went back to my berth, being too sick to sit up; a good many of the officers and men were rather scared. The next day the wind went down, and by Sunday, it was as pleasant and warm as any Sept. day, but I tell you I am no sailor, and I shall not be myself until I get ashore. We have been on ship board just a fortnight to-day (Wednesday), and if any poor fellow is sick and tired of salt water, it is your humble captain. Fresh water is so scarce, that I have had nothing but salt water to wash in since coming on board."
From the 2 Jan. 1862 paper: An Hour Among the Knitters.--On Friday evening last, we spent a pleasant hour in company with those who are preparing articles for the wants of the men who are periling their lives for their country; but it was sorrowful to be reminded of the necessity of such articles;--little pillows for amputated limbs, lint and bandages for torn and ghastly wounds, and some shirts for the dead--such as might be sent to their friends. The woman of our County are doing nobly in this work--now let the men generously supply them with the means which they need.
9 Jan. 1862 newspaper: Mr. John T. Sessions, of Abington, aged 20 years, who was in Co. K 7th Reg't. died at Hilton Head, Dec. 23. His disease was measles, contracted by sleeping in blankets left by the rebels.
Another tidbit from an old newspaper: the Springfield Republican dated 25 Apr. 1853
"A Mr. Chandler was to have been married on Thursday evening at Danielsonville, Ct. to a Miss Helen Cady, and after the bridegroom had arrived, and the guests assembled, it was ascertained that the "intended" bride, had packed up her duds, and eloped to parts unknown, with a Mr. Collar.
Had to leave you with a funny.
Would love to have comments.
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