Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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It is now one week to morrow morn since we came to this fortress and a long week
has it been. I wrote and sent you a lot of mixed stuff a few days since but have
heard nothing from you yet. I recd a letter from Father yesterday which was
dated the 10th and glad was I to hear from home. but this does not suffice. I am
very anxious to hear from you and know about the children and your health. Day
before yesterday we changed our quarters from the northern to the south western
side of the fort. We are now in more comfortable quarters but how long we are to
remain here is not certain. We (The Regiment) ocupy a large Hotel
situated just outside the fort and on old point Comfort
This point
is or has been a great summer resort for Southern Gentlemen but now the same
great Hotel is occupied (as they say) by northern barbarians. The building
covers over a large piece of ground and is finished off very nicely but is only
two stories high. Our Company ocupy nine rooms so that nine men have
one room for their benefit. We have to sleep on the floor which comes rather
tuff but we have got to stand it so there is no use grumbling No one is allowed
to Eat drink or smoke in the house nor even spit on the floor. there is a Cook
tent a short distance from us and we have to go there and get our grub (which I
dont hanker after) and sit down on the ground and Eat We pay W.H. Bell 25 cts
Extra
each month from evry mans wages to do the Cooking washing
dishes &c for the Company and he hires an assistant Evry day some Company
is at work mounting cannons for the defence of the fortress and while
we are at work the Enemy is not idle. Yesterday they were discovered in building
a sand batery on the shore about five miles from here on the
oposite side of the bay and a little steamer with Three guns run
over there but before they got very near them the Enemy fired at the steamer but
did no harm the steamer then let drive at them some Twenty or Thirty times and
the report is that some 18 or 20 of the Enemy were killed but how true it is not
known by me but we could see the firing and hear the report plainly
There are Two large war vessels lyeing here with about 25 guns Each
and one of them would have gone over but the water is to Shallow for them to get
very near but as the little steamer done the business and routed them
it was just as well. These little steamers are very active and are on the
lookout all the while for batteries Smuglers &c. Most evry day
they bring in one or two prizes (as they call them) that is they bring too
vessels occupied by the secessionists and fetch them into port. There is some 15
or 20 of them now lying here. It is said that Gen Butler of Mass is coming on
here with some 8 or 10 thousand men and that there is to be an army formed here
to march out into the interior of the State but all reports are not to be relied
on
The most of our boys are pretty well but young Spencer continues
sick at the hospital. Rugg is not very well but is able to be about. I have not
felt first rate for a few days and have taken some medicine but I am able to be
on duty and perform all my labor which is not little I should like to be at
Danby to day and spend the Sabbath with my dear little family but I hope it is
for the best as it is now I think of you and the children much and I can imagine
that I see Freddy nodding his head and saying bye bye and Carrie too
repeating her verses and asking her mother where Pa has gone. It seems a long
time to look forward to the time when we shall be together again but the time
will soon pass and I will be with you in our little home. I tell you Marie I
never
before realized so forcibly the comforts of a home and the
Kindness and goodness of my loveing wife and children as at the
present and I hope and trust that I may be more attentive to them in the future
than I have been in the past. I shall expect to hear from you soon and I hope
good news will accompany your letter. As I gave you the directions before where
to write in a bungling form I will now give them again— Direct your letters “In
care of Fairbanks & Co. New York. 1st Co. 1st Regt Vt Vols Fort Monroe Va.”
Give my love to all the folks and Kiss the children for me often. I will now
Close and go to dinner which is ready and bid you a good bye until I write
again.
Your Aff HusbandV. G. Barney