Click here for this soldier’s biography:
https://micivilwar.com/authors/clark-gardner-b/
Regiment: 1st U.S. Volunteers Sharpshooters
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Camp of Instruction
Berdans First Reg. U.S.S.S.
Washington Jan 26th 1862
My Own Loved Mary
And still the Sabbaths come and
go regardless whether loved on are near or far away
and really I suppose it does not matter only to those
immediately interested probably it would mak no dif-
ference in the world at large if they should never meet again
what is the happiness of a few human beings be it hundreds
or thousands to the personal aggandisement of some [ ? ]
fool who has by hook at by crook got his name prominent-
ly before the public and whether for good or evil does not
much matter. one will find helpers and co-operators in
either branch of business some with the hope of being
helped up (or down as the case may be) toward Popularity
I am not condemning mankind for these things
for we all inherit them in a greater or less degree, but
I do wish the talent which is laid out for Evil could be made
to bear upon the Good instead. These reflections came
up as I become daily better acquainted with Captain
Giroux a talented man he certainly is and a man
calculated to make his mark in society either for good
or evil one way or the other his influence must be
felt we probably have not a man in our Reg better
endewed by Nature than he and Stan himself if we nead
aright was Second to but One and rebelled because he thought
his night to reign was equal to that Ones and parallel
with Satans case is Capt. Giroux Satan drew after him
a third part of Heavens Host and Capt Giroux could not
by their will take more than that of Co. C. one that
would make him a pretty small Hell to [ ? ] with nor
do I believe he would recruit as fast as Satan does.
Rather
poor consolidation for the mumps. I expect you will say
but I am glad for you sake that you have got them for
they must came some time and with good luck you have got
pretty well over them by this time. I hope so at least may
be out of spite now you will wish I might have them
well I don’t care I had [ ? ] have them as not and
a good deal rather than than the Small Pox. which we are
liable to have break out in camp at any moment. not
that I care personally for the Small Pox, bak: I feat it
as little as I fear an Advance on Manasas. Mary
I dont believe I am getting reckless but I do not know
of any thing that has any terrors for me at least in
in [ ? ] when we came to where pluck is wanted I
may be found lacking but I feel totally different
then when I came here. my life is safe I am confident
probably that has an influence up on me and humbugging
has another hindering effect. Some time ago I wrote to Mother
that when the war was over I was going to bring my wife
to Vermont and live she wrote back that she was glad of it
if it was true and wanted me to tell her if I had one
picked out and if I had what her name is. I am going
to tell her to wait until I see her and then I will tell her
all about it. About that box of course if you had not
send it before Fitch got these you will wait until he comes
back but the direction I sent was just what would save
me the Express charges after it got to Detroit and Adams
Express Co. truck it. they carry all Donations to Soldiers
free when masked that way from any point out in
line the Express agent at Grand Rapids merely wanted
to get pay my memory is so poor that it is possible
I did not write my with the rest of that direction
if I did not that was a mistake it should have been
on it I got a letter from David Friday he told me
about their fight New Years day. I answered it yes-
terday wrote him a long letter. When get that check
for that ten dollars if I was you I would make them
give me gold or at least [ ? ] Canada money may be good there but
it is not worth much more here than old Grand River or rather shin-
plasters would be however do as you think best they get the gold and want to pay
make a percent on it. I would like to see how you look when you are so
handsome wish I was there to plague you
accept this with my love and a kiss
Gardner
