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Regiment: 7th Wisconsin Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Head Quarters 7th Regt. Wis Vet Vols March 20th 1864
Dear Sister
The past week has been a pleasant one to me. My health has been good. The weather has been warm & salubrious no cold rains have visited us so that we have not been obliged to remain in our shanties All nature has it seems combined to render our situation a pleasant & agreeable one For which blessing & favor we are indebted to that higher power who controls the wind & holds the elements at his comand
Yesterday we were all gratified to se about 150 members of our Regt march into camp just from Racine Among the number were eleven men from Co. B 5 old soldiers & 6 new recruits The first class are those who failed to report after their furlough had expired Viz John Bissett Albert Butler Julio us Englag Elisher Dean & Henry Sickles They have all of them a good excuse I believe for not reporting at the experation of their furlough J Bissett has reinlisted for the 200 time While conversing with him last eve he informed me that Amos Bissett had been received into the Invalid Corps at Washington.
”None but the brave deserve the fair” won’t he get a beauty!!
Last eve Lieut Weeks handed me your letter of March 13th also imtimating that if l would call at his tent at 900PM I would find two papers there but that at present he wished to read the journals & that he should think by the size of the letter it would take me at least two hours to read them through Was glad to hear that you were in usual health As I read along became interested in your account of a wedding that took place at Mr Shepards Do not see the point however of you being so sober Think if l had been present should have had as much fun as I did at a similar occasion while at home at Edwards boarding house in Madison Perhaps I did not tell you of it while at home The pasters were both green & some of Edwards Them in a mode not conforming stickly with the disciplin & statutes Although not knowing the couple of which you speak I hope that peace happiness & sucsess will be the result of their union You ask whether I had more than four photographs taken while at Racine, I did not as I supposed that 4 would make good the promises that I had made while at home But if I have made a mistake in the number it will have to so remain at present as there is no artist with the army Distribute them as you please & do as you please about giving one to Aunt Abby. In regard to the pants that I sent home they belong to me as there is no name on them There were several things in the Co chest without names on them these Capt gave to whoever wanted them Last eve Co B was placed on the right of the Regt as Capt H is the senior Captain of the 7th At present the position is of some importance for in all the drills the right of ant Regt have not as much to preform as the other Co of the Battalion Some of our officers have been reading the Life of Napolean & in this book they found where Napoleon said that “A good chess player would make a good military man” The consequence is that Hardie’s & Cassi’s work are below par & have been laid upon the shelf while Paul Murphy’s work on the art of chess playing has been in great demand Those who were not aquainted with the game have become anxsious to learn Lieut Weeks knowing that I knew a little about the game has beenat me for a long time to instruct him in this military game At least I have made him aware that there is a slite difference between a “King & a Queen” & that a Bishop must be well supported in order to be successful
Our Chaplin returned yesterday with the recruits so that hereafter we will have preaching regular every Sunday Two weeks ago to day I had the pleasure of listening to a sermon preach by the Rev R M Hatfield of the NY conference NE Church He is a young man of perhaps not more than 30 years of age & a splendid preacher of masked abilities He is at present employed by the Christen Comision for the defusion of good to the soldiers
I wrote to Edward about 3 weeks ago but thus far have failed to receive a response Untill I recvd your letter I feared that he was unwell & thus prevented from writing I answered George Browns letter a few days ago & told him to send the things that belonged to El’s & Charles to Fathers address I think he will do so
Last Friday we received orders to be in readiness to march at a moment notice We supposed that we were to march on the following morning & made preperations acordingly But the next morning the orders were countermanded I am pleased to see that Gen Grant has been appointed Comd in Chief of the USA with Head Quarters with the army of Potomac I hope & trust that something will be done The army have great confidence in the ability of USG & where troops can reli on there officers it is a good presentement of victory But more of this annon=’ he boys are all in good health & spirits enjoying themselves as only soldiers can There is a theatre at Culpepper many attend I have not I have a good time while at home spent several Greenbacks & I am at present contended with the “Military play” with nature for the scenery But in order to have this letter go out to day I must close From your Brother Spencer H
