George Van Vlack to friends at home

George Van Vlack to friends at home

ElmiraWednesday, Oct. 30, 1861

Friends and home Brothers, Sisters, and Parents,

As I have a little time this evening I thought I would send a few lines letting you know how we are getting along. We are enjoying the best kind of health. Henry is engaged in writing to you. We enjoy our selves first best.

He and I was on gard last night and yesterday we were on 24 hours, that is 2 hours on duty and 4 hours off for 24 hours. We have what is called a beet, that is a sertin distance that we have to walk and must not let anyone pass. We have a gun with a bayonette on and no one can pass. If they do we call the corporal of the gard giving our number. He comes and sees what I want and catches him if he can etc. Some of the boys will run the gard once and a while and when they get catched they gow to the gard house and are put in the dungeon and stay untill morning. Sometimes go on gard the next day. The rules are not very strict here. The roll is called three times a day and if we haint here to answer to our names, the name is picked and we have to gow on gard 24 hours. The roal is called at 6 o’clock in the morning and all have to bee up to answer to their names. Some rather go on gard than to get up to roal call.

Enough of this for the preasant, when I come home I then will tell you all I know. Yesterday the Artillery Redgment Commanded by Co. BALEY from this ground left, it allmost looks lonesome here since they left here. There is comeing a company of Cavelry comeing in soon to fill up their vakent barraxes.

We have had rather bad luck lately with recruits, out of seventeen men 9 was rejected, out of them that was rejected was Frank RALPH, John HALL, Mage RUGG, Charley HART and four or five from Gowanda.

Henry and Lute and myself went down town this four noon to get our likenesses taken. Henry and I had our likenesses taken with our suits on. We have six a piece taken. They are taken on paper. They are photographs. We did not get them, they were not finished. We will get them Friday.

We expected a letter from you but was not disappointed in not receiving one. We shall look for one tomorrow. I don’t expect you can get time to write to us as often as we do to you though there is more to write to us. You must write as often as you can for we shal be glad to hear from you every day if we could. I have written to the girls sometime ago, have not heard from them yet.

How do you get along with the work. Let me know, Clinton (brother), how do you get along with the Horses. You must take good care of them and bee careful with them and I hope I may have the privilege of driving them in a few days.

My best respects to all, excuse this poor writing and bad spelling. Answer soon

From your unworthy Sun & BrotherGeorge W. Van Vlack, a Soldier