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January 12 [1862]
We arived in camp [Camp Upham, LeRoy, NY] yesterday 11 o clock all wright. We found things here more favorable than we expected. We have good fare. A good place to sleep. I slept as well last night as I ever did at home. I have got my uniform. The rest will have theyers next week.
Jan 14 Since I commenced this letter I have been to Byrons [Byron P. Russell, Adrian’s first cousin and chaplain of the 105th NY]. Staid over night. We all stand the drill well and like it. I am fairly in the army. I shal have my position without a doubt. I have a great meny things I would like to write but have not time. I have to drill and study all the time. I think I will come home when [Abner] Marvin and [probably Seth] Wheeler comes back. The roll calls.
Alcander [Adrian’s father] Jan the 16th [1862]
Pa has comenced this letter and I shall have to finish it. They keep him a drilling most all the time so that he cant get time to write or any thing els hardly. We are well and like Soalgering first rate better than I expected. B. P. [Byron P. Russell] and his wife was here to day. Company F had a picknick But we did not have any of the nice things. Santford [Field] belongs to that Company. He said they had a gay old time. ...ila came here yesterday to see us and brought her Feller with her. I am a going to B. P. one of these days if I can when we get our clothes. We look for them every day But they dont come yet. Th[e]y will be here this week.
Pa has to drill so much that he says I shall have to do most of the writing. B. P. Bought a book to him to day a millitary book. Thy Boys have all had to stand on guard But me John Reed and --- --- and Nelt Southwick & yesterday I was orderly all day. But I had rather drill with the Boys. I had to keep a good fire all day and keep thy Boys warm (of corse). I dont know whether I shall come home when Pa does or not. I like it so well that if it was not for the folks I should not want to come home although it is hard work to drill all day But Pa and I stand
it first rate we are so used to standing up. Wall I have wrote all this I can think of now. Pa will write as soon as he can. You need not wate for us But write soon and tell us how you are getting a long and how Charley and Asa [Adrian’s brothers] comes on with their chores. Tell Cam to write and tell me if Dick has come home yet. Tell Sam to feed Zack and make a good nest for him so he can hunt Rabits with him. Adrian. Tell all the galls I am all right on the goos.
Dear Mother
Father saw the Captain [Henry Smith]. He said that I could be excused from drill this fore noon for the express purpus of writing to to let you know that Father will not come home this week. He thought when Dan went away that he would start to day. But Byron came here last night and he wanted him to wait untill next Tuesday then he was a coming out there. Byron has gon this morning out in that part some where around Franklinville and Machias. He has found a whole company in Machias. Their Capt and first lieutenant was here yesterday. & this company is a goin to join us soon. That will make 8 Companys here when they come.
I think that when you see Dan you will hear hard things of Camp Upham. He did not like our stile first rate and he just exackly wont a gunto stay, no sur. Russel had lied to him and wont a gunto stay, no sur. There was no surety of his getting his woman here and he is a going home, yes sur. He made as big a fool of him self as any one could but say nothing about it. We are as pleasantly situated as we can be. We have more to eat than we did when we was all at home some times. We have Beef and bread and Butter, potatoes, beens, apple saus and Coffy, and we are well. I was Vaxcanated about a week ago. It made me feel bad for two or three days But it has got well now. Our Baracks are clean and nice. The Hall is swept out every day and all around our Bunks.
Pa says tell Mr Brown that he will be at home next week. He will start next Tuesday. And he will see Weston and fix it so that the Dock can have the machine. He can kep it there and use it if he wants to untill Pa comes home. Wall I must stop for the Boys will soon come in from drill and they will make so much noys that I cant write. Lewis Rust sends his love to all Great Valley. Give my love to all and tell Joe Field if you see him to ... make old Mother Hales churn and I will pay him when I come home. I had ought to write to Joe But I have not time now. Adrian
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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