Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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I will try and write a few lines though there is but little news here but you
will expect to hear from me and I will try and meet your expectations when I
last wrote you I had had a rather poor spell and at present I am not entirely
over the effects of it though I am about and feel pretty well, but I am quite
weak and can eat but little without its hurting me So I have to be very carefull
of my diet And I think with care I will be all right again in a few days We cant
get every thing here that just suits our taste and agrees with us best but I
cook a little rice or
hasty pudding for myself two or three times a
day. Today is the 4th and it seems more like Sunday to me than like the old 4th
I have spent so many times in old Vt. amidst warm hearts and dear friends. The
national salute was fired here to day at 12oc of 34 guns and this is all the
Celebrating I have seen Except by a few who have been unlucky enough to find a
little too much whiskey, but this Kind is not much admired by me. I presume you
have heard of the Steamer Cataline’s being burned, it was to bad she was such a
nice boat for the business she was in. She has been our mail boat ever since we
left the fort and left here abt 7oc P.M. and was all on fire when she arrived at
the fort. I have not heard how she took fire
There has nothing
happened here in the way of fighting, only that day before yesterday our rifled
Gun was fired in the direction of the battery on the opposite Shore. They fired
but a few times and Came very near them but did not put in a full Charge of
powder They think that there will be no trouble in throwing shells amongst them
if it becomes nessessary. Some are of the opinion that our troubles will be
settled by Congress at this session and I for one hope that it may be so if it
can be done honorably and so that there will never hereafter be any wrangling
between the north and south but if it cant be done in this way they will have to
take a severe drubbing no doubt and that they deserve it is certain I see that
the government will accept no more troops till after the Session so
it looks a little as though there is something in the wind, and if the South
will only come to their sences it will be of great benefit to us and much
greater to them and I would feel much better to go home at the End of war than
to go leaving others to fight the great battle which will have to be fought soon
if peace is not restored Our time is slowly coming to a close and probably in
abt 3 weeks we will again be on our way to Vt again to meet the loved ones we
hold so dear I can hardly wate for the time to pass away I am so anxious to see
you and the dear little Children under our Care but the time will soon pass and
we must be content and take it as it Comes I have not heard from you since I
last wrote but am in hopes I shall get a letter tonight. I hope you will enjoy
your visits and get all around ere my return for it will not be possible for me
to be in Danby long Give my love to all the friends. I cant call them by name
they being to numerous, and Kiss the Children and May God bless and Keep you
till I return.
AfflyV.G.B.