William C. Holbrook to Frank
Primary tabs
I should have written you long before this but for the the past few weeks I have
been on a Court of Inquiry called in our case by Gen. Butler I send you a copy
of Gen. Orders No 98 with Gen. B - remark on the the findings of the Court. that
was not all the findings but it was more than I supposed Gen. B - would admit in
Vt. that will be considered
as a virtual admissssions or
retracting Gen. Order 62. I dont see now why the thing should not be hushed up I
have heard enough about the 7th Vt. it will always be a disagreeable stigma to
the regiment.
In regard to that venerable old soldier of Capt. Duttons company. I learn that
his word is not to be relied upon, in fact it will not do to place to much
reliance upon what the discharged soldiers of the 7th Vt. say that is the
majority of them. if am old ticket presents himself
and one that find
a good deal of fault depend upon it he is nothing but a worthless shiftless good
for nothing old pelter, a regular old salt, such men have been a disgrace to the
regt and state they never have done anything here but hang round the Surgeon and
hospital and many of them have died from sheer laziness. I do not doubt but what
many of those men on Cumbia may have been ill treated. it was a
contract made believe them and the agents of the boat. it is certainly a shame
that our soldiers
should be subject to such treatment but no
government was not to blame in this affair
My regiment is at Pensacola I expect to go over there in a few days I am at present on a Court that is sitting here consequently I could not leave with the Regt. I occupy a house 7 Rome Esplanade, it is a splendid mansion with the most elegant furniture, it belongs to a rich sesesh we use the parlor for all occasions I have expected to live in such magnificance.
We relieved Billy Wilsons regt. & I understand he was living in a splendid
house at Pensacola Sech Mallorys of "Camped" Navy. in that case
I
shall have comfortable quarters at P - I think it is about time that we had
comfortable quarters for a whilea short time at least we have
lived in bush houses long enough. I have been sick for the past ten days with
remittant fever and I am feeling much better now however and expect
to be out again in a few days. I received the pistol and other things the pistol
throws exceedingly well. I believe I have rec. all your letter I rec. a pack,
though Lt Wells. I also rec. Anna's letter
Aff YoursW. C. Holbrook
(Over)
P. S. I forgot to mention that Messrs Bratt & ect. Agts. for Steamer Cumbia in a card in the New Orleans Delta refuting the charge brought against them in the N. Y. Times say, "am obsecure individual names Holbrook connected with the N. Y. Times drew up the letter to which the soldiers signed their name they talk loud down here