John Lester Barstow to Laura
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(I again have the pleasure of writing you a few lines.) When I wrote you last it
was just after receiving orders to be ready for march or action of a moments notice. I thought I should be able to write you
again before the Steamer left, but it did not turn out so. - This was Friday -
soon after writing you, I had orders to take the Rail Road for this place &
report to Col. Day 90th N. Y. for further orders - we got
along very well the first 20 miles. There we were to meet another train - it was
not there & it was supposed, by the picket, that it had been captured by
Guerillas & the track torn up - so I went on cautiously, but found it had
broken down -. I got to La French at 11-o-clock & then marched up here 4
miles. I found 1 Section of Artillery, 4 Companies of Cavalry (2nd Maryland
& Scotts Nine Hundred) & 1 Company of Infantry - The next day we were
busy getting our camp ready to be comfortable and I did not pay much attention
to the country, for I knew that pretty well before. That night (Saturday) I
went to bed at 9-o-clock, now on the ground again without tents &
had just dropped asleep, when a Lt. came galloping down from Col. Days Hd.
Quarters, in great alarm, & said they had just received certain information
from a white man and a negro, that too rebel cavalry were about 6 miles distant
& were coming down upon us that night, & added that Col. Day went to
Brasheau City that afternoon & that I was in command of all the forces, so
for the first time I had to make preparations for a fight on my own hook - You
may well believe, that the long roll beat & the new recruits fell in pretty
lively. It was rather a novel sensation to me, to have Battery & Cavalry
Officers rushing in for orders. - It & to feel that the
responsibility of every thing rested on me. It would take
too long for me to tell you how I posted the guns, & the Cavalry & the
infantry, to receive the expected rebs, who did not come - I will only say that we got ready for them, & were in him until
after daylight. About 12.0 midnight the village, which was just in
our rear, and contains about 3000 inhabitants was set on fire in three places,
& the people were frightened beyond description - the pickets were firing
& every body supposed that fighting would, be serious in a short
time. The fires are supposed to have been set with a view of lighting up the
country & disclosing the movements of troops, by rebel spys - & the
utmost confusion prevailed in the town - I moved my forces further to the front,
and the rebs. left - I do not beleive there was more than 50 of them - others
thinks different. Old men, women, & children fled to the woods & to
their gardens, & under their houses - others ran to the Rail Road, People in
this country knows something about real trouble.
Every thing has been quiet here since Saturday night & I hope will continue
so. I have not the slightest idea how long we shall stay here - I have sent for
my camps and Garrison Equipage & can only - wait for orders. We have been
paid to day, my tart on six months/say was $15 - my allotted pay of $60 a
months still continues to go to the State Treasurer The recent orders of the War Department about continuing men
in service until they have served three years from muster, creates some feeling
here, but I have no idea that it will apply to our Regiment, as we have a
special orders to that effect. I feel the most intense interest in the movements
of the Potomac Army. If we are defeated
there - there will be a heavy
draft for troops, allow the North - & there was may be expected to continue
another year or more - but if, as I expect. Grant is successful, we may
confidently expect peace soon. Nobody wished more strongly, for an honorable
peace, than I do. - but I want to die, and want every man North, to die before
we have any other kind of a peace. I look for the veterans back, in about two
weeks, & shall be glad to see them. I assure you, I will write you often and
as soon as any thing turns up about our being musterd out of service, I will let
you know My extra labor in moving up here, and night alarms, make me much worse.
& I must get away for in no other way can I get rest - or I shall soon be so
bad off that I am afraid that even going North will not keep me. I cannot tell
you how ardently I wish to get home again - My mind flies there every moment I
imagine what you are doing, and what Freddie is doing & wonder if he will
know me, when I get home - & worry & fret to think how much trouble he
is making your folks -
Give my kind regards to them, and to Fred & his wife, and do write me often. My dear wife, I cannot avoid the reflection whenever I write, that this letter may be my last - Although my anxiety to see you & to live to bring up our darling boy, might be supposed to be a reason why I should avoid danger - yet it is a thousand times more for his interest
and reputation as well as my own, that I should not in the first instace, have refused to go into the Army & being in it, that I should so conduct myself as not to disgrace him or myself therefore I shall neither court now shame danger. A just God is my judge -
I am Your Affectionate HusbandLester