Ransom W. Towle to Sebra Towle
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Your kind [letter] was recd three Days ago and found your
Soldier Boy quite well in the enjoyment of fine Spirits and a reasonable share
of contentment considering our rather cool apartments and fixings generally, but
we are now quite nicely fixed and are borrowing trouble at the prospect of
moving to leave our fixings here. We have our tents well fixed and have extra
bedding that was sent from Rochester I have a very large old fashioned bed quilt
given me by Capt Terry the gift of some good - old or young - Dame of Rochester
and if she whoever it was only knew how much shivering it has already saved me
they would feel proud, I am sure I think of the giver every time I crawl under
it. The night Caps fit nicely and keep my ears warm these cold nights. Fathers
letter I recd and have also recd the Papers. I believe I mentioned that I have
sent a Dollar to the Tribune office and friday night I recd yesterdays Paper so
I shall expect it weekly The Standard is always a welcome visitor
at
the Sergts tent Co E; so would be the Flag. I believe you are the first one that
has mentioned Willie how does he grow and is he ugly as ever. hh, how I should
like to see him, though I suppose he would not look at me.You may tell Father or
By. or both to get me some boots made I want as good a pair of Boots as was ever
made in Vt. I want them heavy calf or light [Kid]. Size 9 ½
Stub toed Small heels 1 ¼ inches high. Soles one heavy sole through and a wedge
under it and a tap on top. I want the Soles pared straight down that is, not
flaring out, for in the Va mud the smaller the sole on the bottom the better. I
want them lined in the ordinary way legs coming nearly up to the knee I want
horse shoe plates on the heels and an iron plate on the toe coming back an 1 ¼
or 1½ the ironing I would like to have Byron do the toe plates a good 1/16 of an
inch thick the heels filled with leather I want them well made in the style of a
fine boot as I find it is an object to wear neat looking Clothes and even
polished boots especially a Sergt.
We have a proud, fashionable Col
and a man might be promoted just for wearing a neat polished boot not that that
alone would do it but it would be with Col Stoughton a good recommend. John
might if he can be got about it would if propperly cautioned do the job
satisfactorily if he wont do it right off get somebody who will do it well this
is asking a good deal of friends, but about such things I am helpless boots that
cost in Vermont $2.75 to $3.00 cost $8.00 here. Dont spare any pains about the
boots and take money enough to cover expenses. I guess Father or Byron or both
will do it for me. before the Boots are done I will write what else I would like
to have you send me. I expect we shall be paid in a few Days and then I shall
send a little more money home I would like to have the boots making soon as
convenient as my boots are suddenly giving out. About Old Eng. Mother I dont
know but I think She is feeling rather Saucy and means to make trouble and think
she will next demand the raising of the blockade then pitch in
She
has long been jealous of us, and now seeing us half down I am afraid She will
hop on. If She does I think our difficulties will be speedily settled in some
way, by crushing the Rebellion, by Compromise or Foreign intervention. I see no
way we can long stand the pressure of Rebellion backed by Eng. The weather is
cold and wintry ground frozen hard and just whitened with Snow, the second time
we have seen Snow here. We have got through duties today till Dress Parade at 4
O clock Some of my tent mates are snoozing some reading some squatted down on
the ground writing on their kne your Son among them. One mending breeches one
sewing a button on his coat and so it is through Camp.
for this time Good bye
Your unworthy SonRansom