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Regiment: 1st U.S. Volunteers Sharpshooters
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Culpepper Virginia
Sept. 21st 1863
My Own Sweet Wife.
To day has been one
of unusual excitement to me. I will
tell you briefly the cause. Under an order
from the War Department all soldiers
now in the field who have served at
least nine months that choose to
can re-enlist for three years from
date, and receive, upon muster into
service, twenty seven dollars, and the
next pay day fifty dollars and every
six months thereafter fifty dollars.
Which makes a soldiers pay amount
in the aggregate to twenty four dollars
per month.
The Officers and men of the
Michigan Third with Col. Pierce at the
head are making a move to re-enlist
as Cavalry. -and here comes the rub-
My Co want me to take them and join
the Third which I have promised and
shall do if the Government will allow
us to. The whole Regt. is excited about
it and I have had more offers to join
my Co, than would fill it to the max-
imum number.
I would not raise false
hopes in your mind, so I will state
frankly. that I do not think we will
succeed. As for myself I do not case
it will not better me materially although
I would get a Captaincy without doubt
pay $140 per month. As I have frequently
told you Sis, I shall probably make sol=
diering my profession and during the
year that remains of my present term.
I believe I ought to seek to advance
myself. All I possibly can and by
watching my chance get a position
easier than my present one.
And yet there is another consideration
I will whisper in your ears to recon=
cile you t the movement. that is,
we will provided we win very likely
be ordered to Washington to organize
and equip. in which case of course
you would not come and live with me.
Joel Guild, staid with me
last night. I did not know you had
so warm and admirer in him. as he
showed me he was. He spoke to me
candidly about Hottie Barr. he told
me what if true and I do not doubt
it. I would never have dared
tried at least and he knew positively
she would have had me for the asking
but congratulated me for not asking.
and said he never wanted a better
wife than he knew you would be.
“Alls quiet on the Rapidan.”
In my next I shall send you something strictly private.
With my love always and some kisses
My Mary.
Your Own Gardner
My Own Wify.
Since closing the other
sheet. I have looked over some of your
late letters and in one you ask me
what kept me in Brattleboro so long,
simply for the reason there was no
train left there after the one I
arrived there on.
I have not written to
Michigan because I have had so much
to do. Tell Leonard be sure not enlist
and do all you can not to have him
if he wants to do anything he had
better go to West Point he can do
better than go soldiering as a private.
Give my love to all friends
and believe me you are not absent
from my thoughts no hour of the day
or night. You are my guiding
star. My incentive to do right and
make myself worthy of happiness
Once more with a kiss and a kind
good night I’ll leave you to your
dreams. breathing hopefully a wish
that I may strew your pathway with
flowers.
Your Gardner.
P.S. I have just learned that Laura
Brewers husband has been arrested
in Washington for
[ ? ] and
selling commissary stores
Yours Ever Gardner
[On Envelope:]
For due 6c
Mrs. Gardner B. Clark
Berline
Montpelier P.O
Vermont
