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Regiment: 1st U.S. Volunteers Sharpshooters
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Camp of Instruction Nov 3rd 1861
My Darling Mary;
A kiss and perhaps
a dozen for you to night. at any rate if
I was with you. I would try to see how a kiss
would taste. the two months and a half that
I have been here without a single one seemes more
like the same number of years
[ ? ] that I have
been homesick but being
sol so long away
from all female society that it does not seem
like living. it seems more as though by some
means I had been transported to some other
world. Though I do see a lady once in a while
we usually have one or two to look at us on
Dress Parade. there were two this evening
that I have not seen before one of which I
think I shall make love to would’nt you if
you was me the trouble is however
I shall
I cannot get out of camp to see her and an-
other reason is she was so homely I guess I’ll
adjourn my
[ ? ] in that direction.
We have had a very heavy rain the past two days
which is not a very pleasant thing with a can-
vass tent and five in it but strange to say I
have not had a cold since we have been here
and the health of the camp is pretty good.
Your Mother wrote me she thought I was
promoted or I would not be able to get a
furlough at the end of six months. By the
Army Regulations every soldier is allowed
twenty days every six months if not engaged
in actual hostilities. However as to Promotion
I am a Corporal although I do not consider
that to be any better than a Private and at
the time
of we were at Detroit could have
been the same but I prefered to wait un-
till I had seen service. if I cannot make
my way in service I do not wish to out
of it.
My best friend here Byron Brewer was
Corporal when we left Detroit and his friend
say if it had not been for me he would have
been Second Lieut I acknowledge what
they say but we never should have been the
friend we are if it had been so and now
by his own merit he is Orderly Sergeant
and that is but one step below the Or-
derly we had is now Second Lieut. of the
company. he says he feels prouder now
than he would to have Lieut. when we
started. We have in the Company eighteen
that left Grand Rapids with me five have been
promoted as NonCommissional Officers and
two Buglers and we have one hundred and
three men in the company three Commis-
sioned thirteen Non Commissioned Officers
Eighty seven Privates. It does seem lonely
unless I hear from you twice or thrice a
week. I like our Capt. first rate he will prove
himself a tiger monk that. I have not heard
from Vermont for some time they were all
well the last I heard My sister Sarah
has another boy which makes three she has
had since I left the Green Mountain State
Nov 4th
if she dont stop soon I shall give her a talking
to. thought she says she will have a company
for the war if it does not end before long
You will hear accounts from the Fleet that
left a week ago probably sooner than I
shall and fifteen or twenty thousand troops
went down the river yesterday. it is supposed
with the intention of endeavoring to raine the
blockade of the Potomac I almost dread the
next ten days which will as assuredly commen
ce the contest. I believe. as time will roll on
and when once begun will roll through the coun-
try carrying deaths and gloom to many a hearth
stone throughout this fair land and such too
or has never yet been equaled on this continent
Be cheerful and write often Blessings upon you
With much love
Gardner
[On Envelope:]
Miss Mary J. Baxter
Grand Rapids
Michigan
(Box 450)
