Elbridge Gerry Manning, Jr., class of 1861

Chief Commisaries

Quarter Master's Office, Second Arcmy Corps

Falmouth, Va. Jany. 13 1863

Dear Father & Mother,

Your letter of the 9th inst came to hand a few hours ago, and like a dutiful son I take this my first leisure moment for two weeks to write to you my dear parents.

I have been very busy getting my Monthly and Quarterly Papers for Dec off and just sent them this morning so I expect a little leisure now to do some of my own writing.

Every night I have sat up until one o'clock writing as fast a I could and consequently I am sick of the sight of a piece of paper.

Everything here looks as usual very quiet if I except the Negroes who have put on considerable style since old Abes proclamation and refuse to work any longer

unless they can get 25 dollars a month just twice as much as a soldier. consequently the soldiers are down on the nigger question and one of the fruits of ths feeling was shown here yesterday. As one of the negro servants at Genl Howads [??] was passing along with some clothes to be washed he met a detail of soldiers from the 28^th Mass. (Irish) and one of them ordered him to get on and ride. the nigger said "Nay" and the soldier shot him through the lungs and then made tracks for the woods. the boy has since had an arm amputated and he's very low indeed. The soldiers all say they will kill every nigger they can catch alone. Seven were found dead in the woods the other day all in one heap and that's the way the thing will work if

they can't learn to keep a civil tongue in their Heads. It is might bad for a soldier to see a negro used any better than he is a free white man a negro can ride a horse, have a good horse, good grub, good clothes and a soldier must take his leaving and wait on him. Do you think any reasonable nigger worshiper can want a soldier to do any more than that? The weather here is splendid and I sit around in my shirtsleeves and feel plenty warm. all I use my overcoat for is to sleep on nights. I want you to send me a box at once directed to Falmouth, Va. Care of Capt Smith Actg Corps [???] 2^nd Army Corps. Right Grand Division Army of the Potomac. And put in lots of nice warm stockings. I have only got the pair on my feet left and also plenty of warm shirts towels and

Handkerchiefs, some nice soap and a sponge, toothbrush and a razor and strap. I can't get any such things here for love or money. I guess some cake would keep well enough and anything to eat will go bully only don't put anything in that can break and all over my shirts the same as that jam did. Send me a little bag with some needle, thread & pins and all those fixings "Every man his own Seamstress!" Send me some more Pepermint. some more Black Peper. Yeast Pod Powders nutmegs & a few cloves. those things we miss very much indeed out here. Put in any good story books you can get for me around the house and I guess I can get them all safe.

And I want you and Father to get your pictures taken and put in the box and now I am so important as to be at Camp [??] you may send me that old black hand

Head Quarters 2d Brig 1st Div. CdH Port Hudson La. June 5th 1864

Dear Father & Mother:

Your letter of May 19th has just come to hand and I have just set down to answer it for as you say it is full of news. first of all I am glad Frank is not one of the drafted men. God has been merciful to you there, for if he should go into the Army of the Polomac the marching and those swamps at Fair Oaks would kill him if the bullets didn't. I am glad that Frank called on Gene Andrews for the General is a gentleman and I would guess would lay a good word for me. By the way what is Uncle John doing now? The last I heard from him he was in New York City and was at work there, but said he expected to