John McCoy, letter, to Martha McCoy, 1864 October 9
Date9 October, 1864
RepositoryRauner Special Collections Library, Dartmouth College.
Call NumberMS-605_24
Persistent Identifier
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Morning inspection being over and not
being detailed for guard to-day, I gladly embrace the
opportunity of a few hours relaxation from duty to devote
a short time to [illegible][guess (SYA): correspond] with you. I am [illegible][guess (SYA): sorry to state]
that nothing from you later than the 30th Sept has
made its appearance except fourJurnou Journals which
I received two days ago, I wrote you the 2nd instant
since then my health has been tolerable good exc
-eption of a cold which is
considered nothing here
at the present time I mentioned to you that the
yellow fever was raging in the City I am sorry to
inform you now that the awful mesenger of death
is spreading with rapid strides into the militiary
Camps that surrounds the city the 15.th Conn.
regt. is suffering severely their camp joins the
2nd Mass. Camp of 3 companies doing duty in
Forts Dutton & Rowan so far our camp has
escaped and it is singular to, it being located
at the end of Pollock & Broad streets and the
being detailed for guard to-day, I gladly embrace the
opportunity of a few hours relaxation from duty to devote
a short time to [illegible][guess (SYA): correspond] with you. I am [illegible][guess (SYA): sorry to state]
that nothing from you later than the 30th Sept has
made its appearance except four
I received two days ago, I wrote you the 2nd instant
since then my health has been tolerable good exc
-ept
at the present time I mentioned to you that the
yellow fever was raging in the City I am sorry to
inform you now that the awful mesenger of death
is spreading with rapid strides into the militiary
Camps that surrounds the city the 15.th Conn.
regt. is suffering severely their camp joins the
2nd Mass. Camp of 3 companies doing duty in
Forts Dutton & Rowan so far our camp has
escaped and it is singular to, it being located
at the end of Pollock & Broad streets and the
[illegible][guess (SYA): nighest] camp
to the principal streets of the city
yesterday I had the unpleasant duty to perform
of attending a militiary funeral in the city
the main thoroughfares seemed to be nearly all
deserted by their former occupants the stores
Groceries offices and places of amusement is
closed and in fact business of all kinds is
suspended. the private residents of the city
that were able has all [illegible][guess (SYA): flown] to places of refuge
until the dreadful epidemichas has passed
over the doomed city. Beaufort and other places
near here is also suffering even at Camp
Palmer three miles in front of Fort Totten
the [illegible][guess (SYA): 12]th N.Y. Cav. is suffering considerable
we are in the center of the disease and has every
reason to be thankful for our deliverance thus
far. since yesterday morning the weather
has been quite cool here. it is the first atmos
-pheric change of the season we are all wearing
overcoats and quite chilly at that, although
at the north to-day would be called a pleasant
harvest day the Doctor says a few more
such days will arrest the progress of the
yesterday I had the unpleasant duty to perform
of attending a militiary funeral in the city
the main thoroughfares seemed to be nearly all
deserted by their former occupants the stores
Groceries offices and places of amusement is
closed and in fact business of all kinds is
suspended. the private residents of the city
that were able has all [illegible][guess (SYA): flown] to places of refuge
until the dreadful epidemic
over the doomed city. Beaufort and other places
near here is also suffering even at Camp
Palmer three miles in front of Fort Totten
the [illegible][guess (SYA): 12]th N.Y. Cav. is suffering considerable
we are in the center of the disease and has every
reason to be thankful for our deliverance thus
far. since yesterday morning the weather
has been quite cool here. it is the first atmos
-pheric change of the season we are all wearing
overcoats and quite chilly at that, although
at the north to-day would be called a pleasant
harvest day the Doctor says a few more
such days will arrest the progress of the
fever if not entirely cause its disappearance
I sincerely hope the cool weather may
continue. The Rebels is getting a little
troublesome here once more I suppose
it is on account of the great sickness
prevailing here. nothing worthy of particular
notice has happened here yet in the fighting
line the night before last a few of our
pickets (2d Mass) were shot and some captured
by the Guerllas - I am quite lonesome
for want of northern papers the last we
got here was the N.Y. "Herald" of the 1st inst
at that time the progress of the union army
was quite favorable to a speedy conclusion
of the war, and as for political news we
are kept entirely in the dark, as far
as I can ascertain the Troops are pretty
much unanimous in favor of "Little Mae"
there is one thing I notice the Greenback
is getting better the last quotation Gold
was 194 leaving a dollar worth 52.c I think it
will fall gradually —
I sincerely hope the cool weather may
continue. The Rebels is getting a little
troublesome here once more I suppose
it is on account of the great sickness
prevailing here. nothing worthy of particular
notice has happened here yet in the fighting
line the night before last a few of our
pickets (2d Mass) were shot and some captured
by the Guerllas - I am quite lonesome
for want of northern papers the last we
got here was the N.Y. "Herald" of the 1st inst
at that time the progress of the union army
was quite favorable to a speedy conclusion
of the war, and as for political news we
are kept entirely in the dark, as far
as I can ascertain the Troops are pretty
much unanimous in favor of "Little Mae"
there is one thing I notice the Greenback
is getting better the last quotation Gold
was 194 leaving a dollar worth 52.c I think it
will fall gradually —
I sometimes take an imaginary
visit to the old homestead in
Canada I fancy that I see the
cold white frosts in the morning. the
foliage of the trees are turned yellow
the wind is flowing for I can see the leaves
falling from the trees and lighting on
the Bye [illegible][guess (MKR): road] as in former times again
I think I hear the cold fall rain spatter
on the shingles all betokening that the
cold winter is drawing nigh such I
presume in reality is the case which draws
the conclusion that I should send you
some money to enable you to provide
what is necessary to make you comfort
-able till the ensuing spring. but "Alas"
it is out of my power at present as I do not
expect to get paid until next month. there
is six months pay due the last of this
month. all the rest of the Troops have been
paid in this [illegible][guess (SYA): department] only 2.d Mass. perhaps
it is all for the best. the 15th Conn. were paid
and dearly are the paying for their dissipation
in the rum shops and Brothels of the city
our Reg.t would be as bad if not worse had
they the money - my best respects to all who
thinks of me my love to you and the children
and may God protect you and watch over you
Canada I fancy that I see the
cold white frosts in the morning. the
foliage of the trees are turned yellow
the wind is flowing for I can see the leaves
falling from the trees and lighting on
the Bye [illegible][guess (MKR): road] as in former times again
I think I hear the cold fall rain spatter
on the shingles all betokening that the
cold winter is drawing nigh such I
presume in reality is the case which draws
the conclusion that I should send you
some money to enable you to provide
what is necessary to make you comfort
-able till the ensuing spring. but "Alas"
it is out of my power at present as I do not
expect to get paid until next month. there
is six months pay due the last of this
month. all the rest of the Troops have been
paid in this [illegible][guess (SYA): department] only 2.d Mass. perhaps
it is all for the best. the 15th Conn. were paid
and dearly are the paying for their dissipation
in the rum shops and Brothels of the city
our Reg.t would be as bad if not worse had
they the money - my best respects to all who
thinks of me my love to you and the children
and may God protect you and watch over you
is the desire of Your
John M.cCoy
John M.cCoy
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