Click here for this soldier’s biography:
https://micivilwar.com/authors/clark-gardner-b/
Regiment: 1st U.S. Volunteers Sharpshooters
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: George B. McClellan
Camp of Instruction
Berdans U.S.S.S.
Washington D. C. Jan. 12th 1862
My Own Loved Mary,
Pleasant and spring like is
the weather to day as warm as April days and telling
us that though we may be inactive the seasons come
and go the same time passes swiftly or slowly as we
occupy it these
[ ? ] you may believe it goes swiftly
to me for at not time since I have been here have I
been so busy as within a week past. I have received at
a half dozen letters within that time and written as
many, which with my other duties have not given me
time to be homesick even if I were so inclined
Last night brought me a letter from Sabrina
the first one she has written me since you was out
to Uncle Ebers just before she went to New York she says
murcury is down to twenty five below zero. they had
not had a mail for a month untill she got my letter
which was written more than a month ago. Celias
husband had just come in with seventeen trout which
weighed nine pounds all they have to do when they want
fish is to catch them.
Probably before my next I shall
be down with the mumps but I dont care though I had
rather not have them. they went
[ ? ]
We have nothing new in relation to our camp affairs
the belief gains ground every day that we will soon
be disbanded and it is not confirmed to the privats either
can it be possible that we have seen all this suffering
disease and death with no benefit to thy cause. I hope
not for the cause of humanity and liberty I hope not
and in their name I solemnly protest the country
cannot afford it. the public voice will one day cry out
against those men who to further their own selfish
ends for the hope they have of being higher in their
Country’s confidence and affection they will not scru-
ple to murder their what should be fellow soldiers;
They get the affection of a Liberty and Equality lov-
ing people, Buh, They are not fit to busy thy
[ ?
] consisting of old horses which have died at the
expense of Uncle Samuel that lies all about us.
Years ago I got it into my head that every
thing considered the people composing and Snak-
ing the sum total of this world was growing
wiser better and happier. but now it it seems
to me that that cry is played out. As I read
thinking every nation that has existed since the
world began has thought the same and many
they have thought each of them that they were the best
governed and happiest of any that existed pre-
vious to their own or
when their own was side by
side with their own.
We as a nation have always prided ourselves
on being a great and mighty people ranking
ourselves No. 1 on the list. I admit we are a
powerful nation our raising and arming
more than half a million loyal and devoted
men in less than two thirds of a year from
the first bell that sounded to arms through-
out the length and breadth of this land shows
that the hunt of this some powerful people so
with their Liberties. But that heart has been so
long controlled by a few with selfish ends that
that some heart has become so corrupted
that they only know the Union is in danger
and the mass instantly rise to the rescue with-
out one thought as to
how what the remedy should
be the only true remedy for a disease having its
basis where this one has, they have gone headlong
at the weak which required cool heads and trusty
nerves more than it wanted the great mass of
soldiers which are at present in the field men
by thousands were needed and could be had for the
asking. as also menu in untold quantities but
although they needed both by the thousands yet they did
not need and should never have been raised in
this small
[ ? ] of time not the half of either until
and so fast as what were raised were put in a state
of efficiency more than two hundred thousand troops
now in service are no more fit to be there than
I am to be President of the United State of America
The same labor and care bestowed upon these
that have been in five of the men under arms.
would have more then more feared by the entire
South than they are now. Leaders we have not capable
of moving this want arms the world never saw but
few men with head
[ ? ] to control so much
George may be in second George for all I can say
and with a mind capable of grasping and hurling
upon the heads of those traitors all this mass to my
mind he is not however others may think. I am
yet
[ ? ] the peril of freements
[ ? ] Genl-
[ ? ] caused it and if a man in McClellans position
is capable of being moved by such a trivial thing
as that he can not be the man the nation should trust
but enough of political affairs.
If you should see
an article in the Eagle signed Byron you can put
another with it and guess who the auther is. I am
glad you have written to his Mary hope you will
meet and be mutually please with each other.
Tell your
Father never to be
[ ? ] of wishing here again
if this was as it should be I would wish so too but
he has better wait until
we get into the field before
he joins us and never join any but what are al-
ready in active service. Camp life is the worst
[ ? ]
about soldiering and a man will fight better just
from his home then after he has been in camp awhile and besides
constricting disease, demoralization will faster upon him if it be possi-
ble. About that he as we shall not leave here probably this winter I will
send you an address in this that you can send it and in a way that it
will come
[ ? ] and in about ten or twelve days
[ ? ] John
[ ? ] has been
sick with the measles getting better now he had a box sent him over a week
ago but has not got it yet please give my kind regards to Loise wish her much
happiness and plenty of agreeable beans with my compliments and best respects
to your Father Mother Celias and the remainders of my Uncles Aunts and Cousins
and much Love and
[ ? ] to you I will close because the boys are laughing at me
for cross writing.
Always your son Gardner
