ADRIAN FAY 1863 LETTERS
October 1863
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Adrian Fay Home Page
Camp of the 94th
Oct. 1st / 63
Dear Sister
I recd your letter day before yesterday. The same day we got here. We have moved 3 or 4 times since I wrote you last & now we are some where near ceder mountain. Some of the Boys say we are in a 1 ½ mild of there. But I dont know. I have not been out of camp since we came hear. I have been sick for a bout a week so that I have don no duty & when we marched I was obliged to ride. I am a little better this morning
than I have been for several days. The trouble is I have had a hard cold on my lungs & in my head too & I have had no a petite to eat any thing. So taking all in consideration I have had a pretty hard time & have got pretty weak. But I eat a good Breakfast this morning & feel stronger. As soon as this cold wears off I shall be all right a gain. If I dont get the “Double quick” [diarrhea]. I think your mode of cure would not work here. In the first place we have no stars here to sit by. & the second: we dont lay in one place 4 days so we should not have time to try the method.
Having the Desease at home & having it here is two diferent things. I have no doubt but what “John Guthery” [Guthrie] thinks he has had it. But he never has had the first “smell” of it as we have I here. We are camped right in the Woods. I havnt seen nothing But woods for three or four days nor I dont know as I want to. I hope we shant leave this place untill I get a little better. But if we have to march any great distance I guess they will send me to Washington or some place for they wont want to draw me around in the Amblance if we have to march far. Well you need not get
consarned a bout me because I am a little Sick. I shall have cair as good as can be had here. & that will be good enough while I am here. If I was at home & could get no better cair I would think it was hard. But any thing is good eneough in the Armey. I have not writen to Montrose yet for I have not felt well eneough to write any more that there was express need of. I will write to him when I get time & feel like writing. But tell him it is his turn to write first. “I wrote him last”. Well this sheet is runing out. I will have to stop an get an other. (Next time you write write so a sick man can read it. A well one could not read your last. You can read this. This is tip top writing. I don this my self.
UNDATED – [Probably 1 Oct 1863 continued]
Wall Mati I have Picked up an other piece of paper so I guess I will write a little more if I can think of any thing to tell you as you say. If I could see you I could find eneough to talk a bout. I am hopefull that I may see you all in 3 or 4 months then I will tell you lots of Big stories & maby they will be true too. I am sorry that Pa & ma worries a bout me. There is no use of that. I am gust as well off when they dont worry as when they do & they are a great deal better off when they dont worry than when they do. I shall come out all right and if I dont (as one of the Buck tales [Pennsylvania infantrymen] said the other day when the Dockter was taking a Ball out of his hip) says he it is hard But what in the Devil am I here for) We came here to die if need full. I think we shall stay where we are untill it is time for us to go into Winter quarters so I dont think we shall fight any more this fall. But we cant tell. We may have to march in a day or two & then have a ... Battle. We cant tell any thing a bout it only what we think.
I cant write any more this time so good Bye. Write soon & tell all the rest to write.
Adrian Fay
Camp of the 94th N.Y.S.V.
near Ceder mountain Va.
October 2d / 63
Dear Brother
Mother said you wanted me to write to you & direct to Olean. I think I wrote you last while you was at Cooks. But that makes no odds. I will write a gain. We have been moving around & have got near cedar mountain where our Regt first met the “Rebs”. We have been laying around here for two weeks. But not in one camp. We have changed Camp 4 or 5 times since we came here. I don’t know where
we shall put to next. Time can tell us & that is all. I have been sick for a bout a week so I have don no duty. I have had a hard cold & was a little a fraid I should have a feaver but I am better now & guess I will get over it after a little. I had a letter from Lucretia Field [his first cousin]. She wrote that Grandma [Lydia] Clement was dead. Our folks have not writen any thing about it yet. She died a week ago today [Sept. 25]. I suppose you know all a bout it long before this time. I was a going to write you a long letter a bout your leaving Cooks. Do you think you can do any better than
you was doing there? Or what do you think? I will tell you what I think a bout it if you have no objections. I think if you will be steady, & work faithful & not be too free with your money that you will do better than you would there. But if not that was the best place for you. Mother said you was a going to try & earn eneough to get a yoke of cattle by an other spring & let Pa have them (to work I suppose). I think you would do it if you tried. I mean to send them my money as fast as I get it & try & pay for that Place then if I never should come
home Pa & Ma would have a home & if I should come home with a head or a leg of [off] then I would have one & if I should come home all sound we could divide it up some way so we could all get our shair. Well I have wrote all I can this time. More than you can read so I will Close. Good bye. Write soon.
Adrian
Excuse this short letter & I will do better next time.
Adrian
Montrose
Camp of the 94th
Near the Rapid Ann Va
[Probably Oct. 2, 1863]
Dear Sister Mati
I will try and write you a few lines to day to let you know how & where I am. We left our Camp day be fore yesterday morning (or a bout 11 o clock) & got here a bout 4 o clock. Our Corps has relieved the 12th Corps. They were here doing Picket duty a long the Rappdann. Our Corps is doing Picket duty now. But there has non of our Regt been detailed for Picket yet. But I expect there will be soon. We are expecting too to march evry
day. They keep giving us rations evry day so that they keep the 8 days good yet. I think they are expecting a long hard Battle here or els a Skedadle back for Washington, for I dont see why they should have us keep 8 days rations on hand while the teams are all here & the cars runing up here every day. There is somthing up that is sure. “I guess a nother Skedadle for Washington”. Well I have forgot to tell you how I am. “I am sick”. I have got a terable cold. I got excused from duty to day by the dockter. I dont know how I could get such a cold. I am all Bunged up. We have verry cold nights here now. I think it is colder now than it was last year at this time. I have got a good
blanket & the same Overcoat. I have got all the clothing I need. But here is where the laugh comes in. I have got 8 days grub & no apetite to eat it. I havnt eaten any of Uncle Sams rations in 3 or 4 days. What little I have eat I have bought of the Sutler. I guess I shall get over this cold in a day or two. Now then Il make the hard tack super a gain. Well Mati my head is too much Bunged up for me to think of much to write this time so if it is not right correct the mistakes cause my head aches. Write soon will you. We are a bout 3 miles from rackoon ford.
Well good after noon Molley
Write quick
I expect a letter from some of you to night when the mail comes. I was a going to write to Montrose but I have not had my chance to yet. May be I will wright to morrow if we dont have to march & my head dont ache.
Camp of the 94th N.Y.V.
October 9th / 63
My own Darling Sadie
You cant imagine how glad I was to get your letter this morning. I was not looking for one so soon. So as you say it was doubly wellcomed by coming so unexpectedly. But it was thribly wellcomed & more to when I came to open it & found the picture of my Darling Sadie in there. Oh! Sarah you cant guess how glad I was to get that Picture. It looks so natural. I have sat & looked at it more than half of the time
to day. It looks strange to see Sadie a way down here in the land of Dixey. I tried to talk with her this morning but she did not appear to be enclined to say much. But looked just as though she would like to say somthing if she could if she was not Dumb, Dumb, Dumb. Sadie I did not half answer your letter before I got it half wrote. We had to pull up & move & then the next day I was so sick that I dont believe I knew what I was writing. I was verry sick for a bout a week. I never was so hard up in all my life. I had such a cold that my headears& eyes were swellon so that I could neather seenor hear a word. But I am a bout well now. I feel just as well as I ever did but the Docter wont let me do
any duty yet. He says I am not strong eneough yet. I am willing he should think so for I had just as leaves have a play spell for a while as not. On Uncle Sams expence. Most all of the Boys have gon out on picket down near Racoon ford. They went a way last night & wont come back untill to morrow night. I wish I han have been well eneough to have gone with them. They are clost to the Johneys & they talk & chat with them evry day. They hardly ever fire at each other only once in a while when they see an Officer coming a round. Then they will pick him if they can. I hardly know what to write that will be interesting to you. There is no news here at all. Nothing going on but the camp duties.
Perhaps that would be interesting to you to have a Bugle sound for you to get up in the morning & then in 20 minuts it sounds agan for to Poliace [police] the Co. sts. Then at 6 oclock it sounds again the Sergans [surgeon’s] call. At 7 Breakfast. At half past 8 is guard mounting. At 9 for drill. At 11 is recall from drill. At 12 ½ for dinner. At 2 for drill again. At 4 recall. At 5 ½ dress parade. At 6 ½ supper. At 8 ½ roll call. At 9 for lites out & evry man at his quarters. That is somthing of what Solders dutys are & if he dont start at the sound of the Bugle the next thing is a Corporal & a file of guards. Well Sadie this is a verry uninteresting letter & this Sheet is a bout run out & I guess you will be glad for I dont think you can read it in a week. If you can you will do well. I have made lot of mistakes but I will try & do better next time. I will close this sheet & perhaps I will write more this after noon if we do not git orders to march.
Truly your Adrian
Sadie
You was braging in your other letter a bout your waying so much. 115 is good weight for a school marm. But I believe I beat you yet although I have lost 18 pounds in a bout two weeks. I was weighed yesterday & I weighed only 118. Two weeks ago I weighed 136.
Camp of the 94th
near the Rapidan Va.
October ... / 63 [c. 10/9/63]
Dear Father
I will ... write to you a few lines ... for I suppose you are ... as glad to hear from me as I am to hear from home. I have been sick for a bout two weeks so that I have don no duty of any account. But I am geting better now. I think I shall be able for duty a gain in a day or two. We are encamped near the mouth of Ceder run
& right in that bend is a large mountain & the Rebs have got that mountain fortified ..ingly strong. We can see them plain from our Camp with a glass. Our P[ickets] and the Rebs are not a ... rods a part in some places. But the [Rapidan] River is between them. I dont see what we are laying here for. We never can drive them off of that hill by atacting them in front. If we should it would be like FredericksBurg they are so strongly fortified. But I suppose they know their own darn business & I dont know whether ...
the teams have to come up evry two days & bring us rations. The 8 days have [plaid] out & we draw ... days now. I think [there] will be a move before [long]. But I guess it will be for [Washington]. I dont think ... dair fight them here. [I got] a letter from Mary last night. She said Grandma Clement was dead. [She died Sept. 25] I think Mati was mighty slow a bout writing to me a bout it. I had heard of her death a bout a week a go so her letter was to late to tell the news. I think it is mean that Sant [Sanford Field] [&] John Reed has got to go to ...
got exempt on the acount of his mother if nothing more. Barn Southwick is verry sick. He has been sick a long [time. I] wouldnt wonder if he ... they took him to the D[ivision] Hospital this morning. ... I cant write any [more] this time for I must go [get] my self some supper. May be I will write more after supper.
Adrian
Oh there has never any one of you wrote what was don with the money I sent home. I suppose you paid it on the place. ...
[Note: This letter has holes from mice chewing on it.]
Carver Hospital
Washington D C Oct 12th / 63
Dear Mother
I will write you a few lines this evning to let you know of my where a bouts. We got orders last friday night [Oct. 9] to draw eight days rations & get ready to march & all of the sick & those that wer not able to walk & cairy thier load wer orderd to go to the Division Hospital that was back near Cullpepper. So I got a head of the Amblance the morning of the 9th & went to Division Hospital. We got there just at night & had gon to bed & was Sleeping
good & sound when orders came for us to pack up & go to Cullpepper & take the cars for Washington. We took the cars about 10 o clock & got here about 9 o clock last evning. I am not verry sick though I am not verry well. This is a first rate Hospital & they take good care of the sick. I think I shall be all right in a week or two. Erast French is here. I have had a good long chat with him to day. I am in Ward 26 & he is in 27 so we have a good chance to see each other often. Erast says “hank” Kelley [George H. Kelley, 6th NY Cavalry] is only a bout 40 rods from here at an other Hospital But we have to get a pass to go ther & I have not had a chance yet to get a pass to go
& see him. You may think because I have been sent to the Hospital that I am very sick. But I am not. I was very sick for a bout a week & I fell a way all to nothing. I was as poor as Jobs [?] old cat. But I have gained up a little. They feed us first rate here & my apatite is good so I will recruit up a gain in a week or two so I will be better than ever. Well there is nothing more to write this time as I can think of so I will Close for it is a bout bed time. write soon.
Direct
Adrian Fay
Carver Hospital
Washington D. C.
Written in margin on third page:
dont wate 4 years before you write for I may not stay here so long as that
Carver Hospital Washington D.C.
October 18th / 63
Dear Sister Mati
I will write you a few lines to day, as I have nothing else to do to killtime, it being Sunday & there is hardly any thing going on & it makes Sunday apear to be the longest day in the week. We hardly ever have any Sundays out in the Front. Evry day is so near a like that we can not tell the diferance, and it seems odd enough to get here a mong Sivilisiaton [civilization] or where folks pretend to keep the Sabath. I have just been up to the Ward where Erast [Erastus French] stays. He was laying on his bed reading a book. I sit down & talked
a while & then we went up to the Post offace. But not an I.O.Y. of a letter for eather of us. So we came back & concluded we would write a letter & Sturthefolks up & see if that would do any good. I reckoned the last letter I wrote to would Stur you up so that you would write a little oftener but I do not know whether it will or not. I have been here just a week to day & it seems as though I had been here more than a month. I am just kinda Sick eneough to make time seem long. The Docks says I have got the “ChronicDiareah.” I dont know but it is that. But I have not had the “Diareah” but a little. But I honestly do not think that I can ever stand it in the Field as I have a gain. I could stand it
all well eneough but long Marches& heavy Knapsacks that is what plays me out. But I think I shall get over this in a few days so that I can go back to the Regt. again. Then if we should get in some place where we would have to march but a little I would stand it as well as any of them. I should not wonder if the Regt. was having some hard marching to do now & may be fighting. I think they will have a big fight this fall yet. I wish I was well eneough to be with the Boys now & could stand the marching. Well I am geting tired of writing so I will wate untill evning & then finish this. Well there has nothing new transpired as I know of since I commenced this letter so I
may as well wind up and quit. I wrote to you to Send me some stamps. But if you have not sent them you need not now for I can get a plenty here. I expect you have sent them to the regt. before this time. If you have I guess I will get them for I wrote to Peet [Davis] to send my letters here. Well I will quit. Erast sends his love to you & wants you to write to him. Write if you know where Sall Halladay is & how George [probably George Harvey] & Clark Foster gets a long. I hear that Clark could not keep from geting “Drunk”. How is it that so? Write me all the news how you are all geting a long & evry thing.
from Adrian
to Molley
NO LETTERS FROM 10/19/63 THROUGH 11/14/63. FROM CONTENT OF 11/15/63 LETTER IT APPEARS ADRIAN HAD BEEN HOME ON A FURLOUGH. INDEED, IN A SELF-WRITTEN RECORD OF HIS SERVICE, HE WROTE THAT HE HAD GONE HOME ON FURLOUGH TO VOTE IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.
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.