Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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I have just got relieved from guard and will now write you a short letter that
you may know I am still well and have not forgotten my friends This is a lovely
day much unlike what we have had for a number of days past and I presume
different from the weather you are having in Vermont I am looking for a letter
from you to day and expect to hear you making ready to go to Danby, but I fear
you will not see much of their sugaring this year it is getting so late but
perhaps you will enjoy a visit full as well later after the mud gets dried up so
you can get around better I am afraid we will not get paid off soon enough so I
can furnish you with funds to go with but you can speak to N. A. Lasell and see
if he is willing to let you have 25 or $40 if so you will not be obliged to wait
for my pay. There is some talk of our leaving here before
long but I
have heard nothing reliable yet and as Col Andross says the 4th of July may see
us still here and we may be ordered away in three days and all there is for us
to do is to go and come as we are ordered I think we will get paid before we
leave at any rate and probably for 4 months, A day or two ago we had quite a
number of promotions in our Reg, Lt Col, Andross is now Col. and the Major is
now Lt. Co., and Capt Ripley, Major beside quite a number of promotions in the
line officers. there are but two Cos. that remain the same as when we left the
state A & E and Co. H. has non of its old Officers, and Co C. but one.. I
hope something will soon turn up to fill up our regt for so few men as we have
it seems like boys play but I suppose there are many old Regts in the field that
are not larger than ours. I hear that two or three of my men who are deserters
are soon to be here and I had a letter from one who was very penitent and sorry
he had ever left me and was anxious
to get back. I have heard
nothing from Wm Cooney lately, and as Col Andross did not go East I will not see
him at all till we go East ourselves. I have two or three recruits there at
Alexandria also, I have not got those photographs yet but will try and send you
a couple in my next letter. I will send you a ring which one of my boys made and
gave me (from a button) it is too small for me so I will make you a present of
it. Afternoon- I have just received a letter from you dated last Sunday I
expected one so waited I was sorry to hear of Bro Elishas loss and it will be
felt by him no doubt for his expenses must be pretty heavy and being obliged to
buy 2 Horses would make it more so, it seems he is very unfortunate in some
things. it however is not much wonder that he got robbed in Washington D.C. as
it is the most degraded place in all our land and a nest for blacklegs I should
be almost afraid to walk its streets even in day time You say you have no idea
of how we are situated here so I will write you a slight description of how we
are-
and as I have drawn a rude map of our main square will enclose
it to you so you can form a vague idea of us. you see my room is divided in two
and we use the back part as a cook room. we have a stove which we bought and a
small amount of crockery and we mess together and Sartwell does our cooking we
do not live in a very stylish manner but I dont know but about as well as any
one at home I presume it will come rather tough when we go again into the field
at first but we will soon get used to it. It costs about $3 per week to live as
every thing is so high and as you think I am about run ashore for money my other
expenses being so great I have borrowed a little already and think I can get
along till we are paid. I really hope mother will find help soon and be
permanantly cared I would like much to see her. I suppose Em is now at home so
will be quite a relief to Louisa and a blessing to Mother I will close and get
ready for dress parade. so good afternoon and accept a kiss for all
Truly your Aff Hus V.G. Barney