ENPages That Need Review
Letter from Wm. B. Stevens, dated 1863-08-22
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[8-22-1863]
Head Quarters 2d Div. 6th Corps August 22d 1863
My dear Mother:
Would it be any more pleasant for thee to talk with me face to face than in this dull & hum drum way? It would afford me much more pleasure if we only could, but I must not complain, for I am sure thee will not.
If I only knew you all, at home were as well as am I, I would be satisfied. I never was able to do more hours labor in a week, than now. Since one week to-day I have made up all the Returns of the Office for the Month of June, occupying over one hundred pages, besides making the regular daily and weekly Reports and doing other daily duty. In the time, we have moved, twice, had our grand Inspection of the Q. M. Dept. from
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the fifty-eight Mule Teams down to the papers which I have been making for the last three months and more. Knowing my disposition thee will imagine that I did not anticipate any great pleasure in showing these things to the "Grand Tycoon", Inspector, before but when it was over with and pronounced "all right, [underine]except[/underline] in some things of minor importance I breathed freely again. The weather still continues very very hot, though the nights are most cold enough for frosts.
We are living now on Green corn, Watermelons and other vegetables of like character not to omit Oh! [underline]such onions![/underline] I never appreciated "their beauty as a [underline]beverage[/underline]" before. We are Still haying and are not likely to be done for [underline]long[/underline], so you cannot be much behind us in this respect. I do not know yet where the Brigade has had orders to go or how soon I may be ordered to follow there is no change in my address as yet.
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I have received one letter from Ann, since she got home which I replied to but do not know where to address her now, or where she is to be this Autumn.
I think some of attending Church tomorrow, at Warrenton though it has been so long since I have done so, I do not know how I shall behave. News is very scarce and uninterresting here now.
Please write soon
Thy loving son
W. B. Stevens,[?]
To R. B. Stevens.
Letter from Wm. B. Stevens, dated 1863-08-28
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Assistant Quarter Master's Office, Head Quarters 2d Div., 6th Corps.
August 28th 1863.
Mr dear Mother:
Once more am I rejoiced by a Letter from thee and, as usual do not incline to let it lay unanswered over night. I see it is just two weeks since the date of the one thee acknowledges the receipt of but I think I have written once since then. Iat makes no differrence tho.' I am still here, and likely to be so for the present, though I think of knowing more of a surety to-morrow or at least [underline]soon[/underline]. If [CC?] go to N.Y. I shall sure let you know at once for I should then hope to see some of my dear Friends for a short time. I do not get any very deffinite news of the place position or prospects of the Brigade and do not know what or where their duties are in the [Q?], Union, Rebel, Gotham,
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David did not seem to really remember what it was that he threw out, but said he threw away that seemed [underline]hurting[/underline]; by thine I see that only the Cherries were sacrificed; so I feel pretty well. I hope Aunt Pauline & George will go and that they will have a good time. Give my love to them, if they are still at home. I have not heard from Henry in a long time but notice that when I do his courage seems good. If Timothy is anxious to enter the Army at all I think he must see ample opportunity to do so now, since the massacre at Lawrence. I must not write of that for when I do I am led to say things which would not sound like the principles under which I was reared. Nothing more inhuman has been done during the course of this War, I think. Thomas does not intend to send one of his Brothers to the war in this place, and for this I honor him, though it is no worse for us to go, than others, and the money
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goes to him [someone?]. With the experience I have of the Army, even my love of it would not induce me to come if drafted, inless circumstances placed a practical difficulty in the way of my exemption. I have not seen Obe yet, and it is really not time for me to do so, as he will be likely to stop at N.Y. a few days with his old mess-mates. I have hardly heard Philander named since I came into the Army before and did not know where he was Located, or who was at the Mills. Aldin Forcross I think would be a good hand there.
It does exasperate the inhabitants some to lose their vegetables, but their sentiments are too openly avowed to allow us any misgivings. When on the march, we procured Forage for the Animals in the same way only paying for it where the owner would subscribe to the Oath of Allegiance and most of them would do this for the price of
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a Load of Hay, in "Legal Tender". I have just enjoyed a meal of nice ripe Tomatoes. Is confiscation of the property of those who are in open & many instances [underline]active[/underline] rebellion to our Government a "villany?" as thee pleases to call it? I must write a few lines to Ann in answer to her Backing on [thine?] so I will close.
Love to all,
Thy loving Son,
W. B. Stevens
To R. B. Stevens
Letter from Wm. B. Stevens, dated 1863-09-07
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Assistant Quarter Master's Office, Head Quarters 2d Div., 6th Corps.
Sept. 7th 1863.
My dear Mother:
I intended to have written thee yesterday, but was unable to sit at the desk long enough to do it. I did not think it worth while to employ any-one else before to-day; and now I rejoice in being abundantly able to do it myself, though I cannot answer for how I may be to-morrow. I will explain. The Head-ache of which I wrote Ann proved to be the forerunner of a Splendid Chill, which lasted over an hour yesterday afternoon. I took an Emetic (Tobacco) after I got over that, and have taken Quinine, freely since, and if I am to judge by my feelings to-day I am comming out all right, but to-morrow may make me tell another story.
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They tell me I have grown poor within the last three days and I should not wonder. My leg is most well of the effects of my fall, one week ago, though it will require some time, for it to heal, [underline]entirely[/underline]. Capt Galt has gone to Washington, to-day, for Baggage which the Regiments have in Store there. I have not seen Obe yet and conclude he stopped in N.Y. a few days to see the boys. We hear very little of them here. Squads of [underline]Substitutes[/underline] come in occasionally, but none yet whom I know.
I never knew till last week that Rufus Tabor came out in the Tenth Regiment. He is now on detached service with the Ambulance Corps of their Div.: (Genl. Birney's) is 2d Lt. Please excuse me if I write no more.
Love to all, as ever.
Thy loving Son
W. B. Stevens
To R. B. Stevens
