George to his brothers

George to his brothers

ElmiraOctober 24th, 1861

Dear Brothers,

We received your kind and Brotherly letter last evening and Henry & I enjoyed reading it and called it good.

Your letter found us well in good spirits and growing fat and we hope these lines will find you enjoying the same.

Mother, Jane & Ada, - Henry and I was greatly pleased on receiving those splendid presents from our good old home. How thankful we ware to you for they were the nicest thing that could have been sent to us. Few will bee thenights that I will sleep under those quilts when I am not thinking of Mother and Jane. Though never shal I forget any of you while I live.

There is no one who can think more of their home, parents, brothers and sisters than I doo. You may think by the way I came off that I done rong. Perhaps I did though I thought I had better do so. Though before I started I went in the Citching and Mother started and went in the wood house where Jane was and closed the door behind her. I went part way and stoped I thought it would not doo to gow in for I felt bad and it only would ad to greaf.

Enough of this, Stephen and Clinton (brothers) as you have done some running for me I wish you would doo some more. I wrote to Mr. Neubrg about changing matters with Lasky so I could find out what to do with those boots. The first ones Lasky owes W. Hugaboom (Wellington C. Hugaboom was in Company A and wounded in action at Fair Oaks, VA) $5.00 and he will take the boots if need be will turn it. I want one of you to see him and find out about it and answer this right off. For if he don’t take them I can sell them for the same as I gave. Please don’t forget it. My last boots fit me first best and they are a good quality of leather I guess.

Today the weather is very cold and the wind blows very hard. This forenoon it snowed and rained some. This morning Captain WASHBURN returned with 10 recruits from Gowanda and around there, amongst them was Charley HARB, and Mage RUG, that you know, Frank RALPH, John HALL, and George WEELS came as water (? waiter) he don’t know as he has got a burth yet for sure.

There is a good many going home on furlows but can’t only five gow from one company and that makes the turns come slow.

Henry and I talk some of gowing home but in the first place we have not got our uniforms yet. We want our likeness taken with our uniforms on. Then again it is gowing to cost eight or ten dollars to gow home and then when we come back it will be just as hard to part as before. I would like to go home and see you all and straighten some business and may if we stay here any length of time.

Some talks that we wont stay here more than two weeks but others think that we may stay six weeks. There is some companies that has not got only about half their number.

Yesterday this redgment marched downtown to escort General CHAMBERLAIN of this State Malissie and his staff up to this place. One of his staff spoke to the 64 redgment and spoke good. He is a smart speaker. He stired up the feelings of many. In the afternoon Colornel BALEY of Barrax No. 2 Commander of a redgment of light infantry called the Steauberm Rangers came here to visit this redgment. Then both redgments were drawed up in line of Battle and the old General and his staff perraded around amounghst us.

Stephen you wanted to know whether we drilled with muskets or not. We do not drill with them generally though we have some in our barrax. We sometimes drill in small squads with them. Each company has so many for the use of those who stand gard. I have been one lucky one I think for I have not been on gard nor on the tabel, I will tell you. They have a list of names commencing from A and runs down and four is called on every day. One takes charge of the table for one week making five waters (? waiters) at a time. They pass the victuals in a large dishpan such as potatoes, pudding, rice. Beef and pork is passed in pie tins, bread in a large close basket all ready buttered. Our coffy is put in a quart tin cup. We have a tin plate, steel knife and fork and tin cup. That constitutes our table furniture. Our company has gone to visit Barrax No. 4. Henry went I stayed to wright to you, Good Bye, write soon

Oct. 24, 1861

Dear Sister Jane, I can’t close without writing to you a few lines. You must bee a good girl and keep up good courage. I have no doubt but what there is dull times at home for two from a small circle makes it show. One thing makes it less work for you and mother. There is two less to do for. Henry and I would like to bee home and it would bee more pleasant for us all but we are in our right place and the place we want to bee too. For our country needs our service. Jane you must not think we are suffering for we are not. You must write me the first time you have and wright all the particulars and all the privcy. And I will doo the same.

Give y love to all the young folks around there, and especially to Mr. Parkers folks. Ada you must write to me. Jane tell any of the girls to write to me and I will answer them with pleasure.

From your fitting BrotherGeorge W. Van VlackState Volenteer, N.Y.