Roswell Farnham to [Mary Farnham]
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Your letter of the 9th and 10th was received last night. That makes the third letter
that I have received from you this week. I should be glad to hear from you every day,
but I certainly have no reason to complain. I am sorry that the warm weather affects
you so unpleasantly. My own health is passable. I do all my duties without
difficulty. I am better than I was when I first wrote you and if I keep quiet I think
I shall soon be quite well. The month is now nearly half past, and we are looking
forward to the time when we shall start for home. Mr. Baldwin, and all who have
written, in fact, say that you intend to give us a great reception when we get home.
It will all be very pleasant, still we would rather dispense with too much ceremony.
I think too much of a reception will not be agreeable to most of us. We talk now of
camping out the first night we get home, and going through the whole programme of
camp life, if we carry our tents home with us. We cannot tell until we get home to
Rutland. I suppose there will be some grumbling among the folks at home but I think
they ought to endure it if we can. I think it will hardly be advisable for the boys
to go to the Junction, and that is the feeling of the officers generally. We shall be
glad to see as many of our elderly friends as
choose to go either to the
junction or to Rutland.
I have written you two or three times that I have received Mr. Strickland's letter. I have rec'd Mr. McKeen's also. It must be that you do not get some of my letters.
I had a letter from Laura night before last. She writes rather discouragingly, but does not say that the Doctor tells her that her ears cannot be cured. I am sorry for her, still I think it is well that she has given the matter one fair trial. She was rather down hearted when she wrote and had not read my letter. It has probably reached her before this.
I should like to have you make us a short visit here. It would hardly be advisable to
stay more than an hour or two, for I dont know but there would be a rebellion, if
half a dozen white women should stay in camp over twenty-four hours. The other day at
the review, the men's eyes were upon the ladies present rather than upon their
officers. You speak of Harry Worthen's remaining in military life. He cannot do it,
nor can any of us, unless we get an appointment in some other regiment. This regt. is
going home, and the third has its officers, so that in the Vt. Regts. there is no
chance. If there is another Regt. raised in Vert. after we get home, it will probably
see a good many of our boys enlisted in it. The war will not be closed at once,
neither will it be very long. I hope and believe that it will not end with any
compromise. Government will accept nothing from the Rebels but submission, and they
will not probably submit till they have been defeated in at least one decisive
battle. Old Scott will do that when he gets ready and he wont be hurried by the
impatience of the people.
I have nothing very new to write you. Scouting
parties are sent out every day and night, and most of them, if we can believe their
stories meet with wonderful adventures. Yesterday some scouts of the German Regt. run
upon the picket Guard of the Rebels and ten of the Germans were taken prisoners. A
large party went out to look them up, but I have not heard with what success. When I
learn more about it I will write you further particulars. The Dutchmen and Zouaves
are continually running into some trouble or other. If a few of each should be taken
or shot it would teach them some circumspection. Our boys very seldom get into
trouble and they have quite as good a chance, for some of them are out almost every
day. Yesterday a lot of them went out black berrying. They got some very good ones.
We live well now. Yesterday noon Capt. A. and John Stearns were asleep at dinner
time, and as the rest of us did not like to disturb their slumbers we did not wake
them, and the consequence was they did not get up to dinner till about two o'clock.
It was the more unfortunate for them as we had had a splendid dinner, viz: dried beef
cooked in milk, new potatoes, apple sauce with raspberries, a loaf of warm bread
baked in a bake kettle, and blackberries and sugar. This morning we had fish balls.
Prichard has got in a bad way of sleeping out doors lately. He does not come to bed
till some time after the rest of us have retired. I think Orissa ought to know of
it.
Sunday Morning. I intended to finish this last night but Blakely came and I was very
busy talking with him. He will stay here a day or two & if we go home pretty soon
he will
remain & go with us. He is well & has a good deal to tell.
But I must close as the boat is to leave immediately. I will write again soon.
Your affectionate husbandRoswell Farnham
Write soon.