Click here for this soldier’s biography:
https://micivilwar.com/authors/whiting-eber-k/
Regiment: 2nd Wisconsin Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
I find at times that time
hangs so heavily upon me that I
do not wonder that those who are
so much my senior in years and experience
seak to drive the devil away as they term
it by indulging first in a Small
game, just for amusement as they
say and then increasing the stake as the
game procedes until it absorbs their
whole soul. But as I never take any
interest games of cards for money I am
frequently deprived of the society of some
of my fellow soldiers who might
opinions better be spending their time
and precious money in some other way
for money goes fast in that way and general
ly all goes into the hands of a few of the
sharpest of them ere 20 days have elapsed
after payday and consequently the victims
are forced to the alternative of borrowing
or giving with an empty purse untill
the next pay day which maybe three
months ahead. Gambling is positively
prohibited by the articles of war regula-
ting such things and in our Regiment
as well as most others there are special orders
forbidding it. But it is like most
other misdemeanors mot the gambling
but the being caught at it that is punished
therefore there are few cases made public
although there is no particular
[ ? ] pains
taken to hid their actions no one wishing
to meddle with other peoples business.
Another kind of innocent immusement
is novel reading which I do not indulgein
preferring to take a social + inocent game
of Whyst or euchre but not being very
fond of cards I prefer reading what
newspapers that come along first. But
as they are to be procured at ten cents per
copy I cant find employment
for the half of my leisure hours
in that manner and this will serve
as an apology for intruding perhaps
upon your precious time But as I
do not feel much like writing tonight
and as it only lack 15 minits of being
time for the taps after which time no
light should be burning in camp.
But it is now the evening of the 9
th March
and I am still looking for a letter from
you but it is one of the duties of a soldier
to be disappointed at nothing therefore
I suppose that I should not be disap
pointed But there goes the drum and
I will to use a military or nava phrase
douse my
[ ? ] after wishing you a kind
good night.
Wednesday March eleventh AP 1863
Twelve months today the army of the
Potomac wer on their way for the then
dreaded Plains of Manassas with high
expectations of an having an immor
and fight. But events
proved that the day of an
field to be delayed untill the
28 -29
th 30
th of August. But today we
are entirely northbound Making it next
to impossible for our bold and daring
[ ? ]
to move himself saying nothing
about arms and arms supplies
But the weather today is fine and I think
that old gal will blow his
Bugle and then some will get
but the Lord only knows who it will be
but I geel confident that knows
his business and will not let him
alone only giving him
he will clean out the hurt of our
at least. But I again find the end
of my sheet and will therefore close
for the present
E K Whiting
