John McCoy, letter, to Martha McCoy, 1864 April 21
Date21 April, 1864
ms numberMS-605_12
Persistent Identifier
Your letter of the 11th
inst. I rec.d yesterday together with the other
appendages socks papers ^&^ stamps as usual it
brightened a little the clouded atmosphere that continally surrounds
me here I am always glad to hear (were that daily) from you and the
Children and in fact from all my friends especially when the news is
congenial to my wishes
I was surprised to see such a large [illegible][guess (SYA): amnt]
of postage stamps on the socks. I am shure that I told you what the
postage was in a former letter however you may not have understood me.
the package only weighed 8 ounces 16 cents postage. in place of 53 the
law says that woolen cotten or linen goods sent to soldiers for clothing
shall pay 8 cents for every 4 ounces or fraction ^thereof^ the postage on the socks should only be 16 cents
I was glad to see the socks and at the same time I regreted that you
sent them when I thought that before long another person might be
wearing such nice socks not intended for them. I had 4 pair of ^socks^
good socks in good order when [illegible][guess (SYA): the came]. I cut the top of some which
^made^ splendid heels for the others
wh with little trouble sewing them in and I am pretty expert
with the needle already I could keep my self in good socks from this
[illegible] by doing so as the boys throw them away
when the break in the heels — I am glad you are pleased with the
stove I was only afraid the price was to small for it to be good. the
heifer may do well enough but two good cows the way Butter is selling would
have helped you well this summer. I think you might live better and
cheaper by using some pork and fish in the summertime. I have rec.d no pay yet nor do I think the money will come
untill the middle of May and then only part of it in two days 52
dollars will be owing me and when ^paid^ you will
get it by express
I may say my health is tolerable good but nothing to brag of
my eyes trouble me consi -derable with the inflamation as
usual - when I first inlisted and went to Fort [illegible][guess (SYA): Meigs] I caught a severe cold and
its effects follows me. yet though I hope the cough is not so
dangerous as might be anticipated. I have no means whatever here of either
curing my cough or my eyes. there is no prescription here by the
militiary doctor in the way of medecine but pills or amputation of the
[illegible][guess (SYA): posteriors]
neither have I money to employ a city doctor the grain fields here
looks beautiful and the fruit trees has been in bloom for some time in
fact all the face of nature looks gay except what ^God^
he created after his own im -age and he looks with a
suspicious eye even at his own shadow, -our duty here is very severe
every alternate night on guard the day I am at my quarters I am
employed cleaning my gun and equipments for mou -nting
guard the next morning or drilling on the heavy guns and when
unemployed
for a short time my brain is so confused that it is morally impossible for
me to write anything in the shape of a letter — a Battle is
expected here daily in fact we are waiting every minute for the long
roll to beat to arms. Fighting is going on all around us, nearly all of the
troop here has been sent to Little Washington Plymouth and Roanoake
Island as reinforcements to our troops only a few companies are left
to do garison duty and should the Rebels make the attack in our present
position Newbern and the ports would ^fall^ an easy pray
for
^to^ them, a report has reached me since writ -ing
the above that a vesel is coming up the river with troops for this place I
hope it may be true it may save some of us from a long visit to the
Libby prison at Richmond — I was agreeably surprised on receiving
[illegible]
[guess (SYA): Herdman's] letter I almost fancied I
was talking to him in the office but when the delusion vanished and
sad reality came to view I [illegible][guess (SYA): got]> very uncomfortable the rest of the day I
wrote a long letter to friend Arthur on the [illegible]
[guess (SYA): 7th inst.]
and I am almost afraid it was intercepted before leaving Fort Totten on
account ^[below]of^
some trouble between the men and the officers concerning rations the
men of Co. C. presented a very respectable petition to the Captain setting
forth their grievances in such a manner
^concerning^ rations & Company funds that it was
hard to doge without acceeding to what was prayed for. Threats were
also used by some of the men that if a remedy was not adopted immedia -tely letters would reach ^the^
northern press where the whole matter would be painted in its true
colors. a young chap of considerable ability in the next
[illegible][guess (SYA): stockade] to
mine and the writer was of [gap: hole] for taking a prominent
part in the affair, hence my suspicion of letters being until
stoped until the difficulty was settled. Brother Davids letter was
thankfully received and a reply to it will be paid attention to as
soon as the impending danger blows over if ^[inline]I^
survive —
I am not much in debt to the [illegible]
[guess (SYA): sutler] yet although everything here
commands an awful price Butter 80 c Cheese
45 c sugar 30 c
[illegible][guess (SYA): -130]
c for a large plug of tobacco and every thing
in proportion 125 c for tapping Boots as I
had to pay that in cash I pay for my washing now I think I have a
enough to do [illegible][guess (SYA): without] that that is shirts & drawers, socks pants
towels & [illegible][guess (SYA): Handkefs] and gloves I
wash myself. mind and make the best use of the money you can [illegible]
[guess (SYA): trading] where you can get the best
value at least I think you can buy flower in Chateaugay the [gap: hole] the above the Boat has come to the wharf with the
158 N.Y infantry - plymouth is taken by the Confederates killing and
capturing all our forces at that place it is not far from here, the Rebel
ram is making awful work among our gun Boats - this may never reach
you
your affectionate Husband
John M.Coy
The postscript appears at the top of the first page of
the letter.
24th I was at a militiary fun -eral yesterday Capt. Flisson Com.der of a gun Boat taken
By the Rebels the are attack -ing with 15 or
20000 men and a large army train — in haste
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