Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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The day after I wrote you at West Point we came down here in Transports and are
now occupying the Fort which is quite an extensive concern and mounts from 80 to
100 guns It is the one built by the Rebs last year, it encloses the village of
Yorktown but the place dont look much as I expected to see it for there is not
half as much of it as of Swanton. It seems the whole force has or is marching
down the Peninsula and the taking of Richmond given up
We are
occupying barracks and my qrs is a log house which is as cozy as you could wish,
and if it were not for the row our Gen. (Wistar) and Gen King are in I should
think we would remain here for some time and do garrison duty but we were
ordered into these barracks which were occupied by the 179th Penn (drafted)
Regt. The Regt. was not here at the time but their baggage and sick and a few of
their officers were in the buildings We were ordered to clear them out and so we
did and by the appearance we are going to have a warm time out of it but I think
our Gen. knows
what he is about and we will remain here. I believe I
did not tell you that Sherman was Capt (so it is) Jewett is 1st Lieut &
Sergt Cleve- land 2nd Lieut. Halbert is again, Orderly again. The Captaincy is
different from what I expected but I hope it is for the best. I have bought me a
horse and a splendid one too he is the best in the Regt and cost me $225- This
is a high price but horses are very high here and all think I made a good trade,
I expect my saddle in a few days from Phila which will probably cost $50 or $60
I have got me a sabre cost $7.50 but it is worth $15-
It costs high
to get rigged out but when it is once done that will be the end of it - The news
from every where is good and we are rejoicing over it the general impression is
that the war is about finished up Excuse the scrawl for it is impossible to
write very accurate under the present state of affairs I am feeling quite well
and gain in strength
Love to all
Affly Yours V.G. Barney