1 March 1862: “Maggie we are beginning to have indications of spring the weather seems like April at the north”

Item description: Letter, 1 March 1862, from Union soldier Stephen Tippet Andrews to his beloved, Margaret (Maggie) Little.

For an introduction to the correspondence between Andrews and Little, please see our post of 11 February 1862.

[Transcription available below images.]

Item citation: In the Stephen Tippet Andrews Letters #5324, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Item transcription:

Camp Warren Washington D.C.
March 1, 1862

Dear Maggie,

They tell me that the powers that be have stoped all mail and passengers going north for the next ten days – how it is I cannot tell at any rate I will try this so as to let you hear from me as soon as possible for you are so good to write me as soon as you get my letters that I could not use you so cruel as to return evil for good.

I received your dear letter of the 25th ult. last night and would have answered it immediately but I did not feel able. I have been on the sick list for the past ten days but I feel better tonight and I think I will be all right in a day or two.

You ask me if we have much sickness in camp – At present we have the most sick that we have had since the regiment was organized we have eighteen on the sick list in our company seven of whom are in the Hospital – But the diseases are all of that character which arrises from taking cold. The weather is fine now and has been for two or three days and if such weather continues the sick list must be reduced, Maggie we are beginning to have indications of spring the weather seems like April at the north

Night before last just before sundown we received an order to send four companies from this regiment with five days rations immediately – our company was one to go but Capt Allen would not let me go on account of my health. But just to see how excited the boys was – they thought they were going to have a fight and were ready in no time; they started at dark and after getting as far as Tenleytown the order was countermanded and they returned to camp – getting here twords morning  It seems that there was a general ordinance ordered by all the troops across the river – and detachments from this side from a great many of the regiment – but the whole thing was stoped for some cause or other. I am glad of it for I will be well enough to go next time. I see Danforth Searl every day also Little Gid Danforth is a Sergeant and a good soldier he is too he just tends to his little “big”[?]

I hope you have recovered from your sore throat by this time – you mustn’t go to getting sick Maggie – I think at the rate that the rebels are getting whiped that we (all that is alive) will be home by July will not that be a happy day for the soldiers and friends of soldiers I even think you will be glad to see me all safe and sound to go to war no more

Maggie if the mail is not already stoped I think it will be as soon as the army commure [?] to move so that I may not get a letter to you just when I want to – but you must write just as often; as letters can come this way  Now Maggie write me a good long letter and I hope I shall be in better condition to write next time

A kiss and Good Night

Steve

This entry was posted in Southern Historical Collection and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Comments are closed.