3rd Wisconsin Infantry & United States Volunteers

Item LTR-11166

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 10 pages, written in period ink and also printed advertisement for "Camp Stove."



Camp near Stafford Court House, Virginia
 February 5^th 1863
 
My darling wife,
 
Received a letter from you day before yesterday, which you may believe I was very glad to get.  As I had not heard from you for about as long a time as must elapse between the receipt by you of my last letter and this.  So, I expect you will be equally pleased at received this.  You see, I use a large sheet of paper this time.  For your letter you speak of the comparative length of our letters.  So, I thought I would have the thanks due me in the case of this letter.  I am very comfortably situated just at present.  It has been cold for the past two or three days.  I received my patent stove just before the change in the weather and put it up in place of the one I had before.  I send the advertisement of it.  So, you can form something of an idea of it.  It is the heating stove I have.  It can be put up in a very short time and packs into a box less than twelve inches square, which is a great advantage in these days of limited transportation.  We had a genuine snow storm about a week ago.  The snow melted very soon after making the roads worse if possible than before.  The ground is frozen now however.  It began snowing again last night sometime and has been snowing and hailing y times since.  The air is growing warmer and it may change from snow to rain, which will give a foot or two of mud off the roads and our uncertain depth in the roads.
 
You speak of my coming home.  I had put in an application before our march from Fairfax.  But it was disapproved at the War Department.  It reached there just about the time of the movement and was refused as a matter of course.  I shall try again to get a short leave, fifteen days is the longest allowed.  But I do not know whether I shall succeed.  If there is likely to be a movement soon, there will not be much prospect.  I should not apply in case of a movement of course.  The rule heretofore has been that leaves of absence would only be granted on surgeon’s certificate.  That it was necessary to prevent death or permanent disability.  A few days ago, General Hooker issued an order that only one field officer and two company officers should be on leave at the same time.  And the general meaning of the order, I only gave one possibility above, has been construed to be that leaves could be granted by Grand Division Commanders to the extent of the order. Such action has taken place in other Divisions but ones are now attached to the Grand Reserve Division commanded by General Sigel and he puts an entirely different construction on the order which would in many cases deprive the sick of the benefit of the former order.  So, man who is intelligent and understand the English language as appears to me could put such a construction on the order.  It may be that General Sigel considers it contrary to the order from the War Department before referred to.  but it should be sufficient for him if General Hooker publishes such an order.  It is to be supposed that he knows what he is doing.  The matter will no doubt be brought to the notice of General Hooker in a few days.  If my application is sent to Washington instead of to General Hooker, I have not much hope of it.  I am disposed to speak my mind here about various things.  But you know it is my rule to say very little about army matters.  If I should get a leave, I could free my mind.  The orders of General Hooker so are very good.  If we could once be rid in this army of poor and incompetent material, political pretenders, etc., I and every soldier would rejoice.  General Hooker, I hope will weed out the worthless.  You have, I suppose learned from the papers, that my name was sent in to the Senate with the rest for confirmation.  The matter is at a standstill with some prospect that the whole thing will fall through.  There were so many names sent in that the Senate could not take the dose.  I am told that it was pretty well sprinkled with politicians and officers with little knowledge and experience.  It has been suggested that the large list was part of a plan to please everybody and have the whole matter quashed.  It cannot be possible that the President would descend to the trick of that kind.  If a suitable number of good general officers is very much needed.  If about a third of those already appointed could be replaced by other, it would be an improvement.  But more are needed.  Some more will be appointed no doubt.  But I think it puts the matter pretty much afloat, so far as I am concerned.  
 
I will write more frequently than I have of late.  I have just heard of the news of the rebels sinking a gunboat at Charleston.  It is a thing to make a great noise about.  But will not amount to much.  It was done to make a diversion, if possible, from the object of General Hunter’s attack, which according to the paper is about to be made heard that the winter in Wisconsin is milder than usual.  I had hoped that I would be able to make a short visit home this winter.  But if we should move soon or if there is apparent probability that we shall, there will be but little chance of my getter away.  I should not be surprised if we should move soon.  I do not think this army will remain inactive this winter unless compelled to do so by causes beyond control of the government.  It would be useless for me to discuss recent military events or to speculate as to the future.  The war thus far has been characterized by many blunders in many respects.  I only know of one course for a soldier to pursue and that is to do his duty.  Proving that experience will bring wisdom and that the result will be for the best interests of the country.  
 
I have not heard from home for several days.  But suppose that there is nothing of particular interest or rather nothing unusual.  I will endeavor to write now and then, often enough to keep you informed of my movements.  
 
Give my love to all.  I should like to hear from the girls as well as all the rest at home.  I really do not have so much time for writing, as I did last winter.  Although I can find time enough when we are quiet.  One gets into habits in campaigning quite as much as in or more natural mode of life.  And one habit with me is to write letters in the evening.  When I do write, I usually must write to Helen first and if I had intended to write to some others at home, the evening is so far gone that I put it off.  Thinking that all important information will be received through my letters and Helen. 
 
Give my love to all.  I hope I may be able to visit you this winter.  I would hardly know Patsy and she would not know me.
 
Howard
 
 
I would write more about military matters but if I write I like to say just what I think and it might not be wise in all points of view.  And besides, the subject once begun, there is not end to it.  You would find my letters full of criticism and of a kind that I presume would not interest you.  I say criticism because of one pretends to discuss war affairs.  It must of necessity consist in great part of expression of opinion on plans and commanders.  I am reminded by a remark in your last letter in relation to General Fitz John Porter to caution you against the expression of opinion concerning military men.  You cannot possibly have the means of always judging rightly and besides people would naturally infer that you expressed to some extent, at least my views.  As you no doubt know the general opinion of Wisconsin people and in fact of the country of military men, seem to be formed quite as much from political predilections as anything else.  Perhaps you would like to know what I think of the result.  It is merely a question of endurance.  The North has every advantage of recourse.  A united determination to fight it through whether it take s one year or five, must win.  But if the north grows tired of the burden, of dollars and cents I mean, for that is the rub, there is not telling how it may end.  If the north will bear one quarter of the ills of war that the south has all be will be well.  As I wrote somewhere in this letter, that the prospect was good for rain, so it was for it is raining steadily.  I would give you the nicest caresses at my disposal if I could pay you a visit just now.
 
It is just growing dusk, which is associated with one’s return to his family and the falling rain brings to one’s mind more pleasurably than usual the idea of a pleasant home.  Not in a tent.  However, you little darling, I hope to take my due of kisses before long.  Kiss that little Patsy.  You must dress her arms and limbs warmly this winter.  Half-clad arms and limbs you know is the cause of half the deaths, almost, of children.  Tell that I am going to pay that letter some for her.  I have said so before but I shall do it now.  You little sweet.  I would like to have a visit from you this evening.  You would not find it very comfortable for you.  But I get along well.  Goodbye Darling till next time.  With very much love.
 
Your affectionate husband,
 
Howard