John McCoy, letter, to Martha McCoy, 1864 February 17

I am pleased to tell you that on the 9th instant you and Archy were the cause of me loosing my d[gap: hole][guess (MKR): in]ner, before being dismissed from company drill on the heavy guns the orderly sergeant called attention to the list of letters and agreeable to expection expectation my name was incl -uded in the list and the when the letters were handed to me I could not wait to brake ranks but tore them open which caused some laughter among the men. I immediately went to my tent and read them them over and over until to late for dinner, thanks to you for the large sheet but it all was only a drop in he bucket you must do better yet. you are your own boss I am not. Archy you done well your letter is worthy of a reply it will be attended to shortly. Ely was a little quick [gap: hole][guess (MKR): c]alling on me before She duned me in writing, the money was on its way to her. she had better try the potatoes next summer and Pappy if alive will pay her the highest price. your favor of the 6th instant I received yesterday which ren-ewed me a little at the same time giving me much uneasiness concerning the money I sent you from Camp Meigs. immediately after I read your letter I went to the Lieutanants that came with me here and told them how it was, they told me to write to the Honorable H. K. Oliver state treasurer in Boston which I did this forenoon telling all the circumstances connected with the whole affair requesting an answer from him concerning it and desiring him to remit the money to you ^and^ if not sent what has become of it. you need not fret for the officers tell me the money must be forthcoming it may be the are using it a letter while on speculation as I hear is often done however I will not let the matter rest until I get it, the only thing that troubles me is that I may die or be killed before I have time to have it cleared up —

In order to exonorate myself from blame in not sending you the money. My self I will tell you exactly how it was with me I enlisted in the Town of Danvers on the 23rd December and went to Readville or Camp Meigs on the 24th got mustered into the service on the second of January Receiving then 27 dollars that I would have sent to you in a letter but the next day I was called on to sign the State role for the State Bounty 325 dollars that prevented me from writing or sen-ding you any until I sent you all at once by express myself however I was Kept in suspense till the 8th when we got orders to Start for north Carolina. when called into the office to receive my money I was all ready to start and full equiped and had no Time not even to consider what was best to be done — the first question the officers asked me was if I wanted the money all down I said yes the then said if ^I^ wanted the money sent to my friends they would do so free of charge I replied that wished it sent to my wife whereupon the asked for your address which I gave in writing they told me the money would be in chateaugay within ten days from that time I thought it would be better than to run the risk of carrying so much money with me when in company with so many fit subjects for Newgate some of the men was penny-less when reaching Baltimore I done all for the best for my family I saw the money all enclosed in an envelope with my name marked on the back of it your address was placed on the top when I left the room — so now you have the whole truth the whole Bounty was to be 627 dollars the remainder to be paid by installments up to the time of my enlistment which is three years — the three years commences on the fifth of October last the time the company was organised first the wages is 13 dollars per month and it is rumured here that a bill is before Congress for more no matter what is is you shall have all that I possibly can spare and I will even pinch myself to send it to you all that troubles I have not more I spend no money for anything except what I can not help and that is very little since I came here I have not been in the City yet nor

do I indulge in anything in the way of luxury. liquor I have not tasted since I lift Philadelphia and there it was for sickness. the rest of the men buys a great deal of Pies cakes &c sometimes a little whiskey and oysters and sometimes the guard house follows but Poor John feels satisfied with humble fare rather than spend what his loved ones need at home, pay day will soon come I if and if I am living the money will not rust with me, enclosed I send you five dollars all that I will risk at present. I could send you ten but I will keep five for my next so the quicker you write the sooner you will get it this is for Mag the next will be for little Pip you must wait till pay day and also the Boys but all is dear the same to me — it is near Taps I must make my bunk and go to bed as lights must be out at half past eight oclock — and I trust the almighty will preserve me to finish tomorrow.

Feb. 18th candle lighting — the turmoil of the day is over I must now devote a little time with my old woman until role call you wished to know a my routine my washing I get done regular the neg washwomen the come to our tents every morning for clothes and return them when washed punctually their charge is five cents each for any article except pants or coats which is ten socks HdKf. and gloves I wash my self and from this forward all the rest. my white gloves must be put on clean every day on dress parade every ^day^. when in the wash house I sometimes look round to see if you are looking at me handling the soap. I sleep in a stockade tent containing four Bunks and stove two men to each Bunk my partners name is Eugene Park a nice young two ruber Blankets is our Bed tick our covering two Blankets (woolen) the knack sack my pillow. we are kept very busy here the morning gun fires at sun rise at the same time the Bugle sounds for role call after that we sweep out the tent fold the Blankets and sweep or police the yard opposite our tent then fall in for Breakfast after that wash ourselves and dishes at ten oclock company drill to eleven or half past fall in for dinner at twelve wash again and Blacken Boots at one oclock Battalion drill which lasts some time, after ^that^ clean our guns Brush our Boots Polish our Belts and Brasses Brush our

dress hats and coats then dress parade at four oclock and a prayer from the chaplain (excuse me for miscalling him) after that supper wash again roll call at half past seven then make Bunks read and write to half past eight Tatoo or taps lights out, Bunk in and sleep this is a short sketch now however your curiosity will be more fully satisfied here after. this and other places of the coast defence in this state is being reinforced from the north as the expect the theater of war will be here the ensuing summer every vigilence is using here by the officers in command to have all the forts well fortified we do not no the night that Newbern will be attacked by the Confederate army lying at Kingston about thirty miles from here under the Com-mand of General Picket. Before this reaches you, ^you^ will see in the papers that we were attacked here on the first instant by the Rebel forces under Picket the fighting commenced at Bachelors creek and deep gully some distance from the city the drove in all our Pickets infantry Cavalry and artillery with heavy loss in killed wounded and prisoners capturing two rifled guns 14 officers Killing 1 Col 1 adjutant 1 quarter master and several Com ^missisary^ officers our men retreated into the forts under cover of the guns the rebels advancing to within 1 1/2 miles of the forts our guns opened on them with shell and Canister which caused them to fall Back taking a large number of small arms clothing provisions ambulances waggons horses mules cattle and military stores probably all that General Picket wanted on the second night came down the river and captured the Gun Boat under water and Burned her up the also tore up the rail road and Telegraph wires in Both sides of the city the band came close to us and played "Dixies land" and "Bully for You" &c. the Newbern paper was surpressed by order of the authorities here it did not please them, the southern a/c of it is quite correct. More. Again. I lay to days & nights behind the parapets ready for action Write quick you forgot to mention my father and who shaves him in fact you forgot all both yours & mine. Mind next time. I hope the childrens throats is better god spare you all till return