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Regiment: 7th Wisconsin Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: Abraham Lincoln, George B. McClellan, Irvin McDowell, Jefferson Davis
Camp Arlington Dec 2 1861
Friend Mary,
I received your letter yesterday, and should have answered it last night if I had not
been on guard. I shall not agree to write much of a letter this morning for I am so tired and sleepy and I can hardly think what I am trying to write about and my mind is constantly reverting to other selves which have passed and gone never to return. If I ever was thankful for any thing, it is that I cannot look into the future. Oh! if we had known at our Exhibi
tion last winter, what changes would take place in so short a time we would have
that circle in a great while, but I fear for the worst. I fear that if I am spared oth
ers will not be. who will be the next I dare not guess. I suppose you think my
chances for a long life are rather slim. I will say now as I told you last Summer
that if I lose an arm I would rather lose my life. but I still think as I did in my last
letter that we will never see a fight. but if we do God defend the right. Perhaps
you would like to know what I think we wont fight one reason is this we have
gained a great Victory in South Carolina. and another large fleet is going down
the coast and another down the Mississippi which with the alrge force here will
draw them away from Washington and their fortifications, then we will follow
them up so fast that they will not have time to fortify and will have to compromise
or be whiped into submission. for they know better than to meet us in a fair fight.
It was rumored here yesterday that Gen. McClellan had issued a Proclamation
commanding them to lay down their arms in ten days- to be sure if it is true
(Which I doubt) they will not do so generally for they dare not but as fast they
can do so with safety they will do it. The good work has already begun in North
Carolina and in Accomac county Virginia They are holding secret union meetings
now in a great many places in the south and I think the day is not far distant when
peace shall once more return to our beloved Country. I hope it will in time so I can
go to the last day of school on the Prairie. I wish I could go to school this winter.
with you and would like to accept your invitation if it was possible. (Perhaps I will
yet). I will try and see your school next summer if you keep one and will agree not
to whip me if I do break up. The schoolmoms whip and throw it at the girls. I
wonder if you had as good a time Thanksgiving as I did. We went down to the
Arlington house where Gov. Randall delivered us a short address. the Arlington
house is where George Washington was married. (I guess I shall have to find me a
woman and get married there too,. I don’t know but I would try but I am afraid of)
the women, after all I think this world would be a poor place to live in if it was not for
them. Don’t you? I have seen a great many pretty girls since I left Wisconsin but
they cant compare with Sauk county girls. and as you say that the girls are going
to have a picture taken of them for me. I hope that all will be there that wish me to
have a peep at their pretty faces. You want to know if I want you to set with them?
I should like to have you set with them or alone as you see fit. I suppose you had
rather set with them. Anyway only so I get it. (That is if you want to let me have it,
at all). I wish I had waited until now to get mine taken. then I should have had my
new uniform. Our pants and over coats are light blue and our coats and caps are
dark blue. I like the looks very well and intend to wear them home with me.
Perhaps go to see the girls in them some nice Sunday evening. I think it would be
pleasanter than standing guard way down
in Virginia. Don’t you? (that is if the
girl was handsome and agreeable) you say, we do not miss blessings which we
never enjoyed very much. I suppose that is the reason some nice young gent is not
waiting on you. How is it? you want to know if I ever knew you to be any other
way than real steady? No! Mom, I never did. Did you ever know me to be real
steady one hour at at a time. Can you remember eating Peas one night last sum
mer? It was just one week from that time when I went away to Harvesting. Little
did I think then I should enlist so soon. Did you think when Milton and I left that
night it would be so long before we should meet again? I believe I promised to tell
you something about a review which was going to take place in a few days from the
date of my last letter. Two weeks ago to day we went out to Munsons hill, only six
miles to prepare the ground for the review.-part of us worked all da and the rest
stood around with knapsacks on. About four o’clock a messenger rode up to Gen.
McDowell with the information that the rebels had surrounded one of the New
york regiments. Gen. McDowell left us standing there and took the Artillery with
him. We expected to follow them and stood there about an hour when the Gen.
came back and said we were not needed so we left for home. The next morning
they said we would have to go again as there was going to be a fight. I don’t know
but there was- but if there was we knew nothing about it. Marched home again at
night. I do not mention this because I think it will be of any interest to you, but I
thought perhaps you would like to hear one or two of the thousand such incidents
which help to keep us in good spirits. The next day after our fight (Which was
Wednesday) we had our grand review. Our brigade was the first one on the
ground. and they kept coming until noon.
There were about seventy thousand sol
diers there, besides a great many spectators. Gen. McClellan arrived at non ac
companied by the President and Cabinet officers. Ministers from foreign countries,
a regiment of Cavelry, and a brass band, mounted on horses. The reveiw was one
of which we might well be proud. Such a large army every one of whom was there
of his free will-and each willing to die if necessary to preserve the union. I felt as
though it was an honor to be there. I would like to see the whole of our army pass
in review on one of our wetern prairies, when this war is ended. Congress has
again assembled and I look for some important measures to be adopted, and some-
thing to be done for slavery. It is rumored here and generally believed that there
are papers in Washington from Jeff. Davis for Congress. What they are no one
knows and I guess no one cares, without they are willing to lay down their arms
and obey the laws. I guess you will get enough of my composing this time for if I
have not wrote as good a one as you did I have wrote a longer one. I am sorry I
put you to so much trouble about that Composition. I would not have said any
thing about it if I had known that you would have to copy it. I never knew I had so
many friends until I enlisted and I hope they wont worry to much about me for I
am not in any danger. I am sorry that there are so many here who do not care for
their character- for they have a great deal of influence over many. I intend that
my moral character shall be as good when I come home as it was when I left. I
know it was not the best but it could be worse. I shall have to stop writing for want
of room and sense. I hope you wont say any thing about your writing for mine is
so much worse it makes me ashamed of mine. Give my love to all and remember
your sincere friend. Walter P. Cater-Mary L. Fisk
