Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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To day is Sunday and I will try and spend a few minuets in writing you I wrote
you a few hurried lines yesterday but presume you will not be able to read them
I was in such an awful hurry but I know you would be glad to get even those. I
recd from you yesterday three more good letters and was very glad to know the
children had got along so well I always had a horrid fear of that disease and am
very thankful that the little ones got along so well and hope when I again hear
from you little Fred will be able to leave the parlour. I guess I will give you
a history of the past few days in which a few very important
events
have transpired. One is that last Wednesday morning all the men of our Regt able
for duty under Capt Kelley went out with the 158th N.Y. and about 250 Cavalry on
a scout to Youngs Cross Roads about 35 miles from here and Captured 25 Rebels
with their horses, who were on picket at that point. Our men did not expect the
capture but the Cavalry who did it were supported by our men so we claim some of
the honor ourselves Col Jourdan was in Command of the Expedition and the Rebs
were taken out of their beds about 5 oc on Thursday morning completely surprised
for our men took them from the rear when they least expected it having crossed
the river some miles below- The next very important event was the arrival at
this place of about 400 recruits for our Regt They came just as the Expedition
was leaving so I had a fine time
straightening them out and
assigning them to the different companies- Spencer Green and Chancy Maxhan came
amongst them. I had Spence come up and stay over night with me and gave him what
we call a few square meals. he is looking very old and
worn and I fear he will not last long in the army. I think the men are a good
lot but they are awful green and I have laughed more for a few days than I ever
did before to see their performance but they will learn shortly and we will once
more be on good footing Maj Bartlett returned as per orders yesterday and will
be gone about 3 or 4 weeks he hopes to bring about 100 more men back with him-
If Dr. Morgan has sent my horse to Swanton yet I shall have him sent to
Brattleboro and brought on with the Maj- I want him much for I have only my
filly to ride, but she is good
To day I have been with Dr. C- up to
Havelock Station about ten miles above here to see a woman- now what do you
think to have your Hus visiting women around the country Well you may think
strange but on arriving there I did not really feel like seeing her and so
remained outside and the Dr- made her a short visit when he came out he told me
she was very sick with the Small Pox so I considered it very judicious to keep
at a proper distance When we were coming back I got off from my horse in a very
curious manner and one not usual. He stumbled and fell I of course pitched
headlong over his head but just as my rear was going over head he gave it a
sudden jerk and I turned the prettyest summerset you ever saw and stuck in the
road about a rod from him fortunately it did not hurt me at all and the doctor
thinks I am quite a play actor- Love to all
Affly V. G. Barney