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New York City
April 2nd 1862
I am to day in the city of N.Y. all safe and sound, had a good old time coming here. Th[e] Baracks all clean and nice. I think it is a better place than Camp Upham But we shant stay here long, not over a week at best. We started Monday a[t] 9 o clock and got here Tuesday a[t] 2 o clock in the afternoon. There is no snow here at all and is quite warm. I sent one quilt & my sachel home in a Box with Peter Davis. You can go there and get them. One quilt & Sachel. I have my Blanket and that is enough. My Pilow I gave to John Markham. I have got a new pair of Boots cost 4 ½ and give my old ones to one of our Boys. I tried to sell them But I could not get any thing for them.
I supose we are to get our pay here. Some says not. I saw Trivet [Constant Trevett, 37th NY, from Ellicottville]. He said they could not move us untill they paid us up. We would not go and they all say pay or no go. I shall send mine home as soon as I get it.
Nelt Southwick has Deserted about the time you went a way. We havent heared from him yet. Barn is sick at LeRoy yet. We have our meals the same we did at Leroy.
There is a Regiment on Staton island. One or the other of us will leave soon eather our Regiment or theres. If they leave we shall probaly go there.
You need not be in a hurry to write to me untill I write a gan for we shant stay here long enough for me to get an answer. I shall write and let you know when we move and where to if I know.
There is so much confusion I shall have to stop and I am tired of writing.
Washington D C April 7th / 62
Dear Mother
I expect you are anxious to hear from me and to know how I get a long in the land of Dixie. We started Friday noon from N.Y. and got to Washington Sunday about 4 o clock in the morning.
We got aboard of a steamer at N.Y. went to Elisabath City [New Jersey] and then took the Cars and came to Baltimore. We marched through the same street where the Massachusetts Boys was fired upon. We took supper at Baltimore and about 10 o clock we took the train for Washington. We stade at the Soldiers Retreat untill noon Sunday then we was ordered to sholder
our Knapsacks and fall in for a march. We marched about two miles north of the City where we are encamped. There is two Batalions of Cavelry here and ther is two encampments in sight of here. Josh King [from Little Valley, a farrier in the 5th NY Cavalry] is here But their Regiment leaves for Harpers Fary to day. We are in sight of the Captal when we was in the City. I went into the park front of the Captal and all around it But did not go from Seller to Garret. I saw a lot of Rebel prisners they had Cooped up in there in a large Brick buildind. They looked like Satan Sewd for Sin rag[g]ed and dirty as hogs. I did not see Uncle Abe nor the house he lives in.
Our Arms are here. They are the Russian Rifle. They are tip top guns. We pitch our tents last night and slept in them. It is not vary warm here yet so but we ware our over coats most of the time. I slept first rate last night. There was 4 of us in our tent. Our Cittels [kettles] have come so we shall cook our own grub. John Reed and the Booths [Edward & William] and Seth [Wheeler] & day [Willard Day] and myself shall stay in our tent tonight. We havent got our pay yet nor I dont know as we ever shall. I dont know how long we will stay here. I can write as often as I please here. But if we go a crost the Potomac we cant write at present But I dont think we shall. They talk is among some of the
boys that we are to be examined a gan. If that is the case there will be half of our Regiment thrown out. John Reed says he hop[e]s he will be But I hope I shant. I want to see the end of Secesh.
Write and let me know how you get a long. I cant think of any thing more to say. Give my love to the gals and tell them I will write to them.
Tell all the Folks to direct to
Adrian Fay
Washington D.C.
Company C
N.Y.V.
Company C
N.Y.V.
Washington D C
April 9th / 62
I should like to know what kind of weather you are a getting up in Catt [Cattaraugus County] to day. It is snowing and storming here so that we cant drill out dors. Monday Morning we moved from our tents into the Barracks so we have got a good place to stay now.
The Regiment that Albert Ellis is in [9th New York Cavalry] are in a Camp ¼ of a mile from here. But thier Company are in Fortress Monroe. They are ordered back so the talk is to be disbanded.
There is one Regiment disbanded here. They are Cavelry. They are geting their pay and are going home. Bulley for them.
Some think we shall be discharged in two or three months. If we are and I am well as I now am I dont think I shall come home untill next fawl if I can hire out to some Rich old Farmer. It is a nice Country here and I should like to live here. I think I would be as tough as a pine not if not tougher. We have divided our Company into 3 messes and each mess has a cook. I am in the first mess. [Theodore] Barlow is our cook. We have Bread meat rice and coffee. Some times it is Bread and meat and coffee for Breakfast, and Bread and red meat for dinner, and coffee and Bread for supper. Our Non Comition officers such as Corprals are John Reed Seth Wheeler Baly [John B. Bailey] [John B. Larkin]Larkins [Reuben] Harrington E[dwin]. Thompson. The other one I havent learned who it is (O yes [Lute] Hickey is the other one. Capt [James] Phillips is Sargent Quarter Master.
Santford [Field] is well and taking care of Bus. How he likes it here good. Uncle James [Fay] is well. I like our guns first rate But I dont think we shall ever have a chance to use them only to drill with them.
I shall have to stop and go to drilling. We drill in the Barracks here. I hope we shall get our pay soon for I cant write many more times for the want of Mony. You may write as often as you please, and tell me how you get a long. As soon as I get my pay, I shall send it home and you can use it if you need it and I think you will for I dont see how you can get along with a [ink blot] some help.
I am glad you did not stay for there would have been so much responsibility on your part. They are so all Killing strict here. We all the Capt and Lieut and Sargents & privets have to toe the mark.
Lieut [Thomas A.] Steadman is at Le Roy yet. He staid to bring along the sick and Diserters.
Write soon
from Adrian Fay
to dad direct to
or Company C Company C
care of Capt. H. E. Smith 105 Regiment
N.Y.S.V.
Washington D.C.
Clouds Mills Va.
Camp Reliance April 26 / 62
Dear Mother, I thought I would write to you to day and let you know that I am well. I got your letter the 19th. I was glad to hear from home. It does me good to hear from you. I was feeling first rate but would feel a great deel better if I had my pay. The Boys ar vary uneasy about their pay & lots of them are so homesick they dont know what to do with them selves. I dont get homesick if any one tears a round & ready for drill or guard duty and looks out for No 1 he is all right. I stood on guard the other day. It was the first rany time I have had when I was on guard. I got wet as a rat But the next day
I was as keen as a bryer & never took a mite of cold. I had a vary bad cold when we first got here & had the Cat tarrh but it has got well now.
I have been down to the crick to day to wash my Shirt. I went over to Clouds Mill & looked around found a lot of Miney Balls along the Crick.
Sant [Sanford Field] is here writing. We rote a long letter to Joe the other day And had it Franked so he would pay the PO. I dont know how this letter will get there. I havent a sent of money nor hant had since I left Washington. I can get any thing els to the Sutlers by geting a order from Capt [Henry] Smith. I dont know how long we shall stay here. Think we shall go to Manasas soon But I dont know. We may stay here all summer. We have ten pickets detaled from our Co. evry day. My turn has not come yet. Wall I must stop and go to dinner and have got ___ Cook for ___. We rost our Beef on the fire when we want to. I hope you will write as often as you can & so will I.
Give my love to all inquiring Friends. Tell all of them to write.
Tell me what Pa is a doing & what he is a going to do. Adrian Fay
[Torn fragment of a letter, probably written from Camp Reliance, near Alexandria, Virginia in the spring of 1862]
...Tyrons [possibly William H. Tryon, Co. F] he carris the Flag Betsy. Lime Glaser [Lyman Glazer] George True are the sargants. I think Capt [Henry Smith] has made a grand soliction in chosen his Corprals. John Reed will soon superseed [Colonel James M.] Fuller I think.
This is a nice Country here or has been once But it looks like a desirt allmost. The Soldiers have cut most all the timber down for fire wood and to give them range for the artilery. They have got a little gun up hier to fort Warth [Fort Ward] that they drove the Rebels from a fort that is about six miles from there. It looks to me like a big story. But some of our boys was up there and they told them that was so.
I am thinking that you will have a good time if you Reed this in one day. I am a getting dozy and want to take an good old snooze.
Give my love to all the galls.
Tell Angaline Isac [Markham] has got the measels. He is in Washington.
Now write by Darn. I have wrote 4 letters to home and got one. Direct to
Company C 105 Regt
N.Y.V.
Our male come from Washington Washington D.C.
[Other side: I shant Reed it over
if I have made any mistakes
Corrct them. Adrian]
Adrian Fay Civil War Letters – Transcribed by Phil Palen
Pages in PINK are transcriptions of Xerox copies of letters sent to Phil Palen by the late Hollis Harvey Reed of Philadelphia, great-granddaughter of Adrian Fay through his daughter, Hollis Fay Fellows.
Pages in GREEN are transcriptions of originals owned by Phil Palen donated to St. Bonaventure University.
Pages in BLACK are transcriptions of originals owned by Patrick Gallagher donated to St. Bonaventure University.
Phil Palen added periods and initial capitals in these transcriptions, but did not change spellings.
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