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Regiment: 1st U.S. Volunteers Sharpshooters
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Camp of Instruction
Berdans U.S.S.S.
Washington Nov. 28th 1861
My Own Dear Mary,
Our Lieut. Col has
bade us Good Bye. Whatever path he or us
may hereafter persue they will probably never
more intermingle. He has been to us, (though
at first we could not see it.) A good Drill
Master, and now of the six hundred men
that have been under his commands not one
but what have the most kindly feelings
toward Him. Co. A. presented him with
a very nice Sword casting fifty two doll-
ars. He combined the worst traits of
mankind with some of the best he even
went so far as to insult the whole
battalion one day at nine oclock the
same night he called us all out and
And apologized to in such a way
that although at the time many of us
would not accept the apology, in a short
time we had rather he would not have
apologized at all. One other thing he did
which as the old Reading book has it
“I think was hardly fair.” He made
love to the Majors wife a young and
gu
quite pretty lady and what was most
she appeared to enjoy it as well as he
only the Major did not look at it in
that light he even went as far as to
challenge the Lieut. Col twice the last
time the Major said he would resign
his commission to place himself
on a level with Lieut Col. Means
(who by the way is only a Second Lieut.
in the Regular Service) and fight
him with any weapons. Means told him
he could never place himself on a level with
him if it was not for that he would do
it in a minute. But he could never be
guilty of fighting a dog.
We all despise the Major. To day
as Brewer
I and I were walking along we
met the Major and wife I made the
remark that if I was Lieut Col or even
Captain I would make love to her. Brewer
said one would be a fool not to. and
whatever Brewer could do I could do easily
blindfold conscious that there would be
no harm in it.
Thanksgiving has not turned out as I
prophesied. we have been shooting and
sading all day and I am glad it is
over and I never want to see another
Thanksgiving while I am in the Army,
On our shooting Match Leak and I got
beat by an accident and immediately
bet another five dollars which weather
permitting we will test next Saturday
Yours of the 24
th received to night
I suppose you will have some sleigh
rides now I hope so at least.
With much love and a few kisses
Gardner
what is that girls name that writes
[ ? ]
poetry at school.
[On Envelope:]
Miss Mary J. Baxter
Grand Rapids
Michigan
