Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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Again I seat myself to write you a few lines but I have no idea what I am going
to fill out a letter with but will write as the ideas come to me. I have had no
letter from you since I wrote my last, but I had a good long one from sister
[Mercie] last eve so I felt pretty well used, but she was
not very prompt and this was in answer to one I write her about two months ago.
I had a letter from Bro George also but a few days ago, so you see I have got a
goodly number of corispondants. I dont know why I dont hear from sister Lu- I
wrote her shortly after I got back from home. I suppose Fred is anxiously
waiting for the letter I promised him but so I have not been down to the City
since on a week day I have not got that pretty picture I promised him and it
would not do for me to write him without sending one, for he would think it
small, potatoes. Things about camp are going on in the same old way and about
all the excitement is in hearing of how many rebels have died in the last 24
hours or of some one who has been arrested for misconduct or of some boy who has
been put in the guard house. there are about 50 men in now and they have their
rules the same as we do in a regiment as soon as a man is put in he has to pay
to the Col (who is the bully of the lot) 25 cents admittance but if he has not
got it and cant procure the amount they give him a sound trashing and
if the one who is put in gets off without broken bones he does well, a short
time ago a man was sent there from Co I of our regiment and he on refusing to
pay the required sum was so badly beaten that he was not expected to live for 3
or 4 days and he is still in the hospital with his jaw all broken to pieces. it
could not be acertained who was the one that done it so there could nothing be
done Their Col’s name was Jones till I put one of my men in a short time ago
when he and the Col had a fight and the Col got very severely whiped. the
prisoners immediately reduced the Col to the ranks and gave my man the position
of Major Gen., which I understand he held till he escaped and got out of camp
and has gone. probably I will not see him very soon again. of the 50 who are
there but 4 are from the 9th so you see we are not the worst reg. out. Yesterday
(Sunday) inspection being over which was at 8 oc A.M. I went down to Church and
for the first time since we have been here I attended the M.E.C and I was not
sorry I went there for the preaching was grand and from the text “I am not
ashamed of the Gospel &c” I hear as good a sermon as I have ever heard the
music too was excelent I wish you could have heard it, as it is nearly time for
the mail I will not write more till after that comes and perhaps there will be a
letter from you in it. (1 oc P.M.) Just as I expected I have got the letter
which was dated March 4th and it seems you are having winter weather there yet
and snow in abundance. which is much unlike what
we are having here.
To day is one of the pleasantest days I ever saw and our parade ground is
getting to be quite dry I never before passed a winter and suffered so little
from cold weather as I have this, in fact it has been one continual spring.. I
understand that it is more unhealthy about here than ever before probably on
account of the wet and changeable weather. I see that Gen Hooker is granting
furloughs pretty freely and men from his Army are visiting their friends all
over the country I think it a good plan if they punish all severely and
immediately who do not get back on time. I dont suppose there is any use
thinking of getting a furlough yet a while being so short a time since I was
away but perhaps if we are sent under Hooker it will not be so hard to get away.
Lt Jewett has just retd from the City and brought a picture for Fred so I will
enclose it with a line to him. I would like to see him when you get that suit of
blue on to him, it appears you are just as equinomical as ever working up old
clothes &c. I hope Elisha will not be so much taken with his new wife, as to
forget to go and see hi mother occasionally but new married people will act out
nature you know You say Carrie is as much of a chatterbox as ever it would do me
good to hear her a while, Hoping you will get along well and be as healthy as
you have been I will close so Good bye
Your Affectionate HusbandV. G. Barney