Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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It is now one week since I last wrote you but when you hear my Excuse for not
writing sooner you will forgive me I am sure. Last Monday I was taken with one
of my old fashioned sick spells and form that time till yesterday I have not
been able to do anything to speak of but now I am getting along finely and will
in a day or two be able to go out on drill I feel now
about s well as ever but am pretty weak and live on rice altogether as the hard
Crackers and Sale Beef are rather to solid for my Stomach. Our Company are out
scouting to day and I would like to have gone with them but did not feel able.
The reason of their going out to day is that there has been an army
of abt 6000 Rebels within abt 5 miles of us and they would have no doubt
attacked us yesterday had it not been for the heavy rain we had night before
last and yesterday morning. we were all in and expected
ever hour to see them advancing upon us but we got news along towards night that
they had gone back and have probably given up their purpose for the present and
it is well for them they did go back for six thousand men would stand a small
chance to take this place for while we were letting into them in front a large
force from the fort would in a few minuets be for playing into them in the rear,
but probably we shall not be fortunate enough to see them here in front of our
breast work but the boys say if they do come we will make bullet
tell and not one be lost
Yesterday abt noon our picket guard brought
in two prisoners they were from the rebel Army and were from a regt of Zouaves
from and dressed so nearly like Col. Durgees Zouaves that
the difference could hardly be distinguished They said they were put on picket
guard when the Army Encamped the night before and were not
in the morning and supposed the Army had marched on this way and left them so
they came on and were taken by our men. there were two others of the same taken
towards night by a Company of Hawkins Zouaves and brought in. they were all
blindfolded before bringing them inside the breastwork and then handcuffed and
taken on board the gunboat “Daylight” which lies here off the shore What will be
done with them I dont Know but they all say they will never go back to fight for
the South for
they say they have been nearly Starved and not had any
where to Sleep but out doors and on the ground The boys have just got back
without seeing anything of the Enemy but they went to where they Encamped night
before last and found some of their blankets &c and saw where their Horses
had been hitched &c They are all pretty tired and hungry and are doing
justice at present to the Crackers and beef. The Enemy have Erected batteries on
the opposite shore from us but have not yet tried them in this direction but
tomorrow we will probably see our rifled Canon fire a few shots at them but it
may be to far off being abt 5 miles for us to reach them but without they have
got Extra rifled guns they will not be able to reach us. at any rate fighting at
this distance cannot be very destructive but if we can throw one shell in twenty
inside their batteries it will be a great annoyance to them and they would be
obliged to leave and therefore prevent them from mounting any more guns to bear
on us or our boats.
I have just recd a letter from you dated at
Uncle Roberts and am glad to Know you are still well and Enjoying your visit. I
dont Know but Aunt Ruth has been making you believe a little truth with regard
to Carrie. you Know what I told you before we left Swanton that she Could not be
beat The little darling how I want to Shake her And old puss he must be awful
mischievous if he is any worse than he was when I last saw him I should think
the warm weather would take the flesh off him some. I guess you will think it
has me for I weigh abt 16 lbs less than when I left home. My weight now is but
140 lbs I don’t think our regt are improving in health any yet and the Surgeon
told me yesterday that he thought there was not half the strength to it that
there was before we left Rut but none are dangerously sick as I understand. One
of the Middlebury
Co. died a few days ago down at the fort and the
Company went down and attended the funeral I believe he was a student from the
College and a very nice young man. I believe he is to be sent home in a
coffin I had a letter from Father last night and he
writes that Samantha Bower is dead and was buried the June 26th. He was in very
good spirits when he wrote and says that they Expect Lu home in July. I hope she
will remain till I get back but you have not written yet whether you intend to
stay in D- until I get back. I think you had better for probably in four weeks
from to day I will be with you again and perhaps a day or two sooner. I think
our garden will be all right as the Doctor Keeps his horse there and is there
often to see to him and he wrote that he Kept watch of the gates and saw that
thing was safe. if you want any money you must borrow some
of Silas and I will see it paid when I Kiss the Children and
give my respects to all.
Your Aff. Hus.Val.