1862 Home Page 1862 Transcripts Page
Georgetown Pa
March 26 1862
My Dear Sister
I rec’d your last kind letter and surely I was very glad to hear from all of you. I have just returned from Nashville and had thought some of starting a school but it is very uncertain yet. Mr McKay is trying to get one and about forty old maids are running around half crazy to get a little school – Our school last winter got them all in this notion – I may stay here a little while and possibly may have a school soon (but it is doubtful) and I may go on the boat again down the river, or possibly I may come home a little while –
If I stay here I hardly think there would be enough small scholars to justify your coming down, unless it should be Public School – I am glad you went home when you did – I have traveled since then about four thousand miles and seen very much of the river country. - I want to go home really but do not wish to lose my chance of going on the boat if I conclude to do it. – I shall arrange to send some money home to pay up Mr Morris. – I may have to send Treasury Notes and have somebody get them changed there.
The Men are all gone here. They are down the river in Gov Service – I shall be at St. Louis and down the Mississippi if I go but you need not be scared about me at all. I am pretty safe. – I would like to send up to Father & Irving some of the things I brought from Ft. Donelson.
They are somewhat troubled about Mr McKay’s school because he cannot teach French – Lucky thing for me if I conclude to stay. – It is very nice pleasant spring weather but pretty cold yet. – I will send you some money in this letter – I find that my pile is not very large yet although I have used but a very little since you went away – My plans are very doubtful now and I cannot tell you at all where I shall be – If a rest comes I shall go home sure. – I wish you to do as well as you can this summer or till I get to teaching again and then I would like to have you with me.
Don’t be so afraid of writing to me here – If I am not here I will have them sent to me. I like to hear from you all – Tell Cousin James [Wright] that I am in the war too and would be very glad to hear from him – I intend to send the rest of Mr. Morris money to day in gold if I can get it if not U. S. Notes I will send $65.- Let him get it changed for gold at Mr Phelps or somewhere – Orville [Flint] or Uncle Weston [Willoughby] will do it – No dout Uncle Weston would be willing to get it at Ellicottville. Tell Mother not to be scared about me at all for I expect to get through safe. – Respts to all especially to Uncle Reuben & Aunt Catharine.
Truly Votre pere
Weston
Notes:
Camp Upham
March 29th 1862
I reached here Friday morning all right. When I got to the Valley [probably Great Valley Station] that fellow had not come. So I wated untill 10 o clock and took the express and got to Dunkirk half past one and had to wate untill 5 before the trane left. I got to Buffalo about 6 and to Batavia about 8 and stade all night there. We have just got our knapsacks & Haversacks & canteens. We shall start for NewYorkMonday morning. I am glad we are a going and all the Boys are. The cars are here on the Switch. They are first class pasinger cars. The Col. said he wasnt going to take any cattle to market and he would have good cars. I have filled my Knapsack and have plenty of room in it. I have sent one blanket home in a box with Isaac and John Markam. We sent it to day. I will pay them for the trouble & thier folks may pay the frait. The other blanket I shall take with me and sell my sachel to some one if I can. I dont know who our under officers are yet. Only [Eliphas] Bidwal was first Corpral. But he Broke his heel cord the other day a dancing and he is a going home untill he gets well. I am well. Sant has got well and is not so home sick as he was. We shall have to work all day to morrow to get reddy to leave old Camp Upham. We shall stay at N.Y. about a week and get our pay then. Wall I must stop. I will write as soon as we get to N.Y. and tell you all the news. We are in such a hurry now.
Good day
Adrian Fay
To Mary or dad
or Mom
or any one
Give my love to all
Mary Montrose
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.
1862 Home Page 1862 Transcripts Page