Elbridge Gerry Manning, Jr., class of 1861

white sugar that is a great reat here and we never see any except some we get home once in a while. Holden is one of the strangest men I ever knew. He has got his discharge I hear and got it in this way. He told Lt Bishop he would make his papers out for him if he would get him his discharge so he got Holden's discharge for him and he ran off and left him in the lurch. Don't say anything so his family can hear of it. Write soon and send that Box as soon as you can. Your Aff Son Ellie P.S. I was thinking of Frank when signed my name. Ellie

last half of a letter P. Hudson ?

what do you think of our new envelopes ain't they a great note? Yours Ellie.

Head Quarteres 19th Regt Mass Vols. Camp near Harrison's Landing, July 15. Dear Father & Mother Although I have just sent you a letter still as I received your letter under date of the 9th this noon and you seemed so glad to get my letter of the 5th of July, that I will write again and improve the leisure hours that I am fortunate enough to get this Afternoon. Do you have any warm weather in N. Andover? I can hardly resist the temptation to strip off my shirt and go naked as half of our men do. You see a whole company of men come out to drill at 6 P.M. in shirts & drawers and bare feet and as the Army shirts are these common unbleached cotton things the men look very funny - all clothed in white. But while during a hot day the air can hardly be borne still it is a mercy that the air is also warm at night since our men have neither blankets or coats having thrown away everythingi & haven't had a change of clothing for two weeks. as for tents they are among the things that were and we only remember where there they existed. You need not fear for me for I have got one more shirt and two pair of stockings. All I need is a

couple or more very thin shirts. get them as fancy as you can for I can't wear anything over a shirt. I guess you had better get a silk handkerchief as I can put that in the top of my hat to prevent sun stroke. Very thin stockings are the only ones I can wear here, everything wants to be thin. Tell Grandpa if he has got a pair of slippers size 7's I can wear them for him I mean to get comfortable as I can out here. For a fellow don't know how soon he may have to go into another retreat and those are rough things I tell you. But as far as I can see we shall stay here for three months or more and during that time you can send me on some of your home diet. Don't put any Bread into the box. I guess some Boston Crackers wouldn't spoil and the Butter & Cake I told you how to fix in my other letter don't forget some more of that sugar, the other was splendid. I forgot to thank the one that put that little wooden pipe of wood into my last box, that had a stranger history than you expected I gave it to Mayor How who had none and I lost it when we retreated as he was killed and his body left on the field. How was a good soldier and one of the finest looking men I ever saw, while I am speaking of him I cannot refrain from rendering him the tribute of a brave man. His dying words are among the noblest that ever graced a dying bed

"Carry me back into the field boys and let me die like a Hero" were the last words of Major Henry J. How. as a strange contrast to this, and showing to my taste a far less noble spirit were the last words of the Color Sergt. he could barely whisper he was so weak from loss of blood, the ball had entered the lower part of his jaw and lodged in the back of his head "Give 'em hell boys, Give 'em hell" I never was so shocked in my life before for I don't call that bravery, but a spirit of revenge far different from the Major's noble sentiment. But I suppose youare sick of hearing of nothing but war. but I assure you if it hadn't been for the mercifull providence of God I shouldn't be writing here now. You need not worry about me at all for I had no scratch excpet a long scarr on my right cheek from a stick I run into at the landing at night. I got knocked head over heels and everyone says I could pass if off for a sabre cut very easily. I amuse myself every hot day picking the scar off. I want something good to eat and I wish I could look in and see you all eat supper and get my discharge from this service which I am afraid won't be for some 12 months to come, at least I don't honestly see any chance of our settling this affair before that, and you know I can't get home until I see the end of all this for