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this letter I comenced a
great while ago
Camp Upham
Feb 9th 1862
Dear Sister I was thinking of home and the Folks as I was sitting here on my bunk when I [heard] some one behind me say look here an looking around Father throad a letter at me. I grabed it and tore it open in the winkin of a hen. I was glad to hear from home this morning and hear that you are well. There is no use of you being lone some I shouldnt think. If I was there I should not be lone some, nor I am not lonesome here. I have not been lone some nor home sick a single hooter since I have com here. I am sorry you did not tell me about Duch so long as you interduced the subject, wonder if she has got home yet.
2 I would have been glad if I could have seen Jonathan Briggs. Pa would like to see him too. I said I did not know who Mag was. I dont But I do remember Mag. No I have not fergot her nor Josaphine. I should like to see her the little gall. There is girls enough here that come here to see us drill But they are not so good looking as the Cattaraugus galls are. I dont think I am coming home some time to see the girls and boys in Shin Hollow. Wonder if Mrs Harvey will let me come and see her girls (I guess so).
I wish I could have been there to that war meeting that Hon. Mr Kelsy on the chair. I think the meeting would have been more afective if the Mr. O[rville]. Flint had have taken lead in singing. I think it should have been insisted upon.
I have not written to --- yet. I should think he would write to you. Charley Field told me he would go over and see you and get the rifle the next Saturday. He said he would go over there every little while and see how you got a long.
3 I stoped a while to hear the Sermon. I dont know what the man name was that preached to us to day, But he give us a pretty good one. Byron came gust as the sermon comenced. I have not spoke to him yet. He & Pa went off as soon as meeting was out. I dont know where they have gon to. We had a gay old march yesterday. We went about 4 or 5 miles out of town. We got Back gust 12 o clock. We were hungry enough to make the Beef and Bread groan. Then we did not drill much in the afternoon. I am well and tough as an old Bar. I like it Bulley. It is a Bulley good place here.
4 We are all Bulleys here. Company C is a Bulley lot of Boys. We have the name of being the best Company and not only the name But the game. We have got the best Captain [Henry E. Smith] in the Whole Baracks that is so. Johny Reed is comander in Cheaf here. He is on guard to day. He is haveing a good day for it. I was on guard last Thursday. I had a good day to. John is one a mong them here exackly. I have wrote this letter kind a --- gone you will perseave. They are calling for supper. I must go.
February 9 I am all right this morning. They say we are a going to have an other long march to day. Pa sais he spoke to the lieutenant and he said I need not go on the march But stay and help him get ready to go home. Give my love to all the galls Josephine as pecily, and tell me if duch is at home yet. I have put my likeness in my coat pocket. You will see Conl Adrian Fay siting up as ---
[Top of first page:] if you can read it, keep it untill I come home
Your letter reached here yesterday while I was on guard. I have gust been discharged from guard. They have built a new guard room and the guards while on duty have to stay there 24 hours.
Camp Upham Feb th 24 [1862]
Dear Mother
I did not write all I wanted to in that letter I sent to Mary so I thought I would write agan for I am sure you will be glad to hear how we are a getting along here. I have had a bad cold for about two days But I went and saw the dockter last night and he gave me something that helped me so that I am all right this morning. It storms like split to day. It is so bad that they have called in the Guards. They dont make them stand out when it storms.
Our old Colnol [James M. Fuller] is so --- of his pets to make them stay out in the storm. They have got the Measels here pretty plenty. The Hospitle is nearly full of boys that have got the measels and there are more that are coming down with them.
Last Saturday we had a flag presented to us by the Ladi[e]s of LeRoy. It is a nice one. You may bet it cost 70 dollars only it was presented by the Ladi[e]s to Colon[el] Fuller & he presented it to our orderly Sargant so Company C caris the Flag.
We was ingoying our selvs tip top in the hall. There was over 1500 persons there when a mesage came to the Colon[el] Chester Rowley was ded, a drummer in Company A. This news changed the Boys thoughts of their splendid banner they was receiving to the deth of Rowley which cossed us all to think for last Mondy he was on drill with us. He was taken to the hospitle Tuesday. He had the tiphoid feaver & some other disease set in. I dont know what it was. There was six of his Company that have gon home with him and they are Barying him to day. Our new flag has gon to wave over his grave & will return to night.
Tell Mary her little solder ant so nice as She thinks for he says he is sick to day. But I guess he dont like drill. Louis Rust says he wants some letters. He complanes a great --- that his folks dont write eneough. I have had to stop to go and be examined. We wer all marched into the hall and examined by the U. S. Oficer and sworn into the United States Servace so we are Uncle Sams Boys now. Pa has gon home with B. P. [Byron P. Russell] But he will come back to morrow. It has cleared off and is quite pleasant to what it was this morning. (So good night) Adrian Fay
[Written upside down at top of last page]: this is the first deth there has been in in Camp Upham
Feb 25- 1862
I am on gard to day & I am having such a nice time of it that I thought I would tell you of it. I dont stand out doors. I stand in the dining room. Tell Charley & Asa that I would write to them if I had tim[e]. But perhaps I will come home in two or three weeks & then I can tell them all I want to.
The General pay day is next Saturday But I dont k[n]ow whether we will git our pay or not. Some say we are shuer of it & some say not. I dont know. I cant write any more to day for I must go on guard agan in a few minets. So I will put this in the Offace while I can.
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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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