ENPages That Need Review
Letter from Wm. B. Stevens, dated 1863-09-10
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Assistant Quarter Master's Office, Head Quarters 2d Div., 6th Corps. September 10, 1863.
My dear Mother:
Once more my "Quill is Clear" and I will use it a few minutes to thee this morning. I am feeling first rate again and have had no Chill since Sunday, which does not fail to gratify me some. The Quinine did the business for me as I intended it should when I sent for it. I have just come from a good Breakfast of Beef Steak, Fried-potatoes and Coffee, so I feel ready for the good days work which is before me.
If this is to pass for my term in Hospital for the Season I am very thankful it is not worse.
Chills even in so mild a sense are not at all [underlin]enviable[/underline] though I never could see any one else
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shake with them and not [underline]laugh[/underline] at them; but at those times I did not intend to ever have to shake, for [underline]my self[/underline]. When I did come to have one a year ago it was so much worse than I ever [underline]imagined[/underline] that I [underline]had[/underline]to laugh at my self.
Yesterday we drew and issued Clothing to the Division and to-day are to have Quartermaster's Stores so I must not write a long letter.
I got one last evening from Henry giving an account of his visit to our dear "home." He enjoyed himself, very much, there: told some of the particulars and seemed to think that I should have enjoyed it too if I had been there. [underline]Perhaps[/underline]
As long as I am well, though I can enjoy myself [underline]here[/underline]: and I am sure that when I am sick I write enough to you of it to make you almost as much trouble as I have, of my-own. Even thee cannot complain but I have kept you posted this time
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I fear from what Henry writes thee is not as sure to tell me of [underline]thy[/underline] little ailments.
I am not sure that even thy age and experience gives thee that caution to exercise that [cure?] over thy self that thy health requires.
Guess I must come home and see about it. Give my love to all. Ann is ere now at Glenwood, I suppose, is she not?
With much love to [All?]
Thy loving Son
W. B. Stevens
To R. B. Stevens.
Letter from Wm. B. Stevens, dated 1863-09-15
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I must close. Please write me often.
Love to all as tho' [named?]. Ever with love to thee.
Thy Son,
W. B. Stevens
To R. B. Stevens
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Assistant Quarter Master's Office, Head Quarters 2d Div., 6th Corps,
Sept. 15th 1863.
Dear Mother:
Once more on the move, will drop a hasty Line to thee.
We left our old Camp this P.M. and are now bevouaced at Sulphur Springs with orders to be ready to start at daylight to-morrow.
I am well, and glad to be on the march once more. No one seems to know where we are going to, and I, for one, do not much care if we only succeed in going somewhere, where we can stay a while
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I must write but a little for it is time I was in bed, but after making the daily Reports, I thought the opportunity too good to lose. Some of the Vermont Regts. are here yet, and yesterday none of them had arrived at Alexandria. I do not know where they are & do not much care.
While they are from us [underline]we[/underline] have only [Bri'g.?] to attend to, so though it does not lessen the labor a half, it makes it much easier for me and the rest of us.
We have only nineteen Wagons now in our train so we have no great trouble on the road.
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Purley had not got to the Junction yesterday, so I do not suppose Horace is in Camp yet, and indeed I do not look for him at all, this season.
Obe has not been to see me yet, if he has got back, of which I am not sure. I duly honored the Springs with my presence & imbibed freely of the Water, which from its coolness, if nothing else, is a luxury, here.
Some disasters seem to crown our apparent success at Sumter, but I look for full success to our arms there eventually, and that, soon.
Letter from Wm. B. Stevens, dated 1863-09-18
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Assistant Quarter Master's Office, Head Quarters 2d Div., 6th Corps, Sept. 18th 1868
My dear Mother: Thy good letter was received to-day and I was rejoiced thereat. As I have the time to-night, and am not sure of having it at another time soon in the future, I will reply [under] the above date. Since I last sent [advices] home, we have moved from Sulpher Spring to near. Culpepper, where we are now, arriving here with the Train at [M.] of yesterday after being on the road for thirty-six consecutive hours though we did get a couple hours sleep, yester-morning on a rock by
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the way-side while some Artillery Carriages were Stalled in the road, before us, and an occasional "[H?] [Tack?] Stayed our Stomachs from Breakfast, on the Sixteenth till dinner yesterday: the roads were very bad & I can now fully appreciate the beauty of Virginia "Corduroy and {Forels?]" of which I need to read and see & wonder at pictures. My health is once more good & we are all glad to be on the way once more, for the monotony of a continued life in camp is more irksome than the fatigue of a move. The Vt. Brigade does not get here yet, and I must give up the expectation of its coming soon. There has been heavy firing at some distance from here, however, most ever since we came here, but the result I do not know.
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I should be very much pleased to see Aunt Mary, but do not see how I can well bring it to pass at present. Give my love to her and to Aunt [Pauline?] & George. I sincerely hope Aunt P. is better, ere now.
It seems too bad that B. T. cannot behave in a manner to render it agreeable for Diana to live with him. What becomes of the farm & where is Truman? I have not heard from him since I left home, I think.
It seems that war alone is not the destroyer of human life, for there must be an unusual amount of sickness at and around home. I am glad to know that people can enjoy visiting, as well and as much as they seem to, and do not know why they ought not if they can.
