Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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Last night I received three letters from you so I have them all the last being
“No 4” In my last I wrote that our mail was probably in Rebel hands but last
night we found out to our joy that it was all right The Cavalry man I spoke of
supposed that it was the mail from Fort Royal and took it there and there it has
been till a Squadron of Cavalry coming this way brought it along, there was two
large 2 Bush bags full of letters and 6 of out of the number were for me and
over 100 for my company We did not get it till 9 oc in the eve and I was obliged
to break a military order and not put out my light at 9.20 oc as I considered my
letters of more conse- quence than military orders I did not let the Co. know if
its arrival till this
morning at Reveille I tell you they were
pleased as I called their names but some few who were forgotten by their friends
looked rather sad. I recd a letter from Bro Elisha also one from Father E-
appears to be well and in very good spirits he gave me some good advise with
regard to the amount of Baggage to take with me. he is allowed only a small
valise and I presume I will be obliged to leave our mess chest and trunks next
time we move but according to all appearance we will remain here for some time
All the way I can tell whether we shall moove soon or not is by watching the
Col. Qr. Master and some others, if I see them making prepa- rations for their
comfort I begin to do the same and so far have found it to work well To day we
have been moving our tents and leveling the ground under them and in my tent (
by the way Sartwell & I have a tent by our selves) Sartwell has dug a cellar
to keep our butter & milk
in. You would think it a funny cellar
but it is about 2 feet square and abut as deep We get milk most every day and to
day S- went out and bought 6 lbs of very nice honey and some eggs he also gets
nice fresh bread every day of a Union family about one mile from here Yesterday
I went out with him and traveled around the country till we got tired and
returned we picked 3 qts of B Berries and ate as many more I did not know but
they would make me sick but I find myself all right yet and but a few moments
ago ate a lot more in the milk for my dinner I am quite thin but my health is
full as good as when I left Vt and I think some better and I stand exposure well
and have not had a cold at all. Night before last my Company & Co “B.” of
Rutland were called on to go up into the fort and guard it during the night I
took command of the two companies and after stationing my guard around the fort
on the inside
which took only 20 men the rest of us lay down and
slept with the open heavens for our shelter it was lucky that it did not rain
but the dew’s here amount to almost the same thing as my blankets showed the
next morning we remained there till day light and came back to camp and after
the boys got their breakfast they were obliged to work all day on the Ft. One
man Co “I” was sun struck yesterday and there was some doubt as to his recovery
but I have heard nothing from him today so conclude he is better The weather is
intensely hot and now as I am writing the swet stands in drops on my hand. You
speak of Baltimore and kissing the little girl. That piece in the N York papers
was the Biggest lie that I ever saw published and instead
of our being cheered evry one was as whist as mice and their faces were as long
as your arm The N York reception also was another hoax, you will see in the St.
Albans Messenger soon a piece written by Sergt Halbert of my Co giving a history
of our journey and a very
correct history it is and as he is a good
writer you will get a better idea of things than from my letters. I have tried
to find out the name of the man that took those photographs but can not you may
tell Lu. that at my first opportunity I will get it again and send to her.
Father writes that your flower garden looks fine I presume you take a great deal
of praises with it I would like to just look it over but I can imagine how it
looks and can see you with Carrie & Freddie at your heels passing through
the walks and admiring the flowers I would like a bit of your squash and a
cucumber but potatoes we beat you on as we have had them for two weeks past by
paying $2.00 per bu. but this price does not seem so extravagant as many other
things are in proportion. butter being 25 cents Sugar 30 c Eggs 25c Cheese 25c
Honey 25c but milk as luck will have it is but 5c per Qt and we can get it by
sending one mile for it and bread but 8c per loaf so as long as we can get Bread
& milk we can
live pretty cheap and pretty good. You dont seem
to get my letters very regularly and I see you almost wanted to find a little
fault. I think this is the 6th or 7th letter I have written to you since we left
Vt and I know it is as many as 6 so I will number it 6. you must look out or I
will be ahead of you and then I will give you a talking to, I want you to send
me all the names of the boys that enlist in the 10th who are from Swanton if you
can get them as I feel interested in knowing who are coming on here to meet us I
hope Chas & Eugene will come for my sake but presume they will wish
themselves at home by the time they have been out one month. You spoke of
getting Mrs. Penniman to live with you. I think she would be a good hand for you
and a good person to take care of the children and if you can get her you had
better. I might write more but will close hoping that you will enjoy yourself as
well as ever and continue in good health, kiss the babies (which of course you
would do) for me and accept one for yourself I will write you again soon
Your aff Hus- Val