ADRIAN FAY 1864 LETTERS
February 1864
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94th Regt
Camp Parole Annapolis Md
Febuary 3d / 64
Dear Sister
I recd a letter from you and Mother and Montrose all at the same time. So I answerd the one I thought was the most important one to answer at that present time, and would wate until some other time to answer yours and Montroses. I will now try and answer yours this evning. But I cant answer Montroses until I find out where he is for I suppose he
has gone before this time. What do you think of me reenlisting? I hope there is none of you that are foolish eneough to worry and fret a bout me. I suppose Ma will feel bad to have Both of us away at once. But she must not think of keeping us always in her sight for that cant be. “Her Boys have got to much “confidance” in themselvs to “think” of being tied to one sacred spot of “Gods creation” (especaly that of “Shintown”). What do you think? Ha! Going to get Married in the Spring? What Spring? Our spring Or next Spring after Winter? So what? To Who? Any one that I know or not?
Well I am coming home this Winter I guess. The talk is that we will get our furloughs this week But I dont much think we will. I have not been musterd in yet so have not got any money yet but I guess Booth, Southwick and I will be musterd in before long so that we shall all go home to gather. There has not any gone yet. Col. Root says one third of the Regt can go at a time so if we do I think I shall go in the first Squad but may not until the second Squad goes. Any time will do me only if the Bounty is secure so that I can get that. I dont want to lose that for there is
where my “Patriot isam” lyes. Well Mati there is lots of news that I could write But I cant think what to write first. So I gues Il quit. You need not answer this till you get ready for I am coming home some time. I cant tell when though. I suppose I am intiteled to the town Bounty as soon as I am musterd in and that will be before the first of March or not at all. What do the Cops [Copperheads?] think of ‘Abes’ last call for 50000 men? Hey that is the way. I wish he would call for as many men. I dont want to quit now until the play is out, “for the “War” or sooner killed.
Adrian
Molley! Molley!
[Written in margins:]
the bigger the Bounty the better it sutes me. I think We that have done the fighting had aright to get the Bounty and the man that is a fraid to come out ought to pay it. (So he had)
The Boys are all playing Cards to night. Booth is on guard and I shall be on to morrow. I have dated this one day a head mistake Feb 2 insted of 3d you see
[Written upside down at top of page one::]
One fellow in Co K up and died this morning. His name was “Baucher” or somthing like that. Lived in York State I guess or some where
Camp of the 94th N.Y.
Annapolis Md
Febuary 9th / 64
Dear Sister Mati
I recd your letter last night. Was glad to get the letter and also the “Stamps” for Money has plaid out. But I shall get some before long I guess. I have not been Sworn in yet. But expect to before a great while then I shall get all my back pay and my old Bounty which will make a bout 160 dollars or more. I guess you had not got my letter when you wrote for you
didnt say any thing a bout my reenlisting. I have been wanting to find out how much County and Town Bounty I shall get. But I have not found out for sertain yet. I expect I shall get $300 from the State now such an act has been passed I believe. I understand the Town of Gt [Great] Valley pays $300. But wheather the County pays any thing or not I don’t know. I shant be at home in more than a month for I am not Sworn in and can not go in the first Squad. There is a bout 130 going to morrow. The rest will have to wate till they get back for they cant spair us all at once.
I expect to get a letter to morrow from Mother. Then I shall know what she thinks about my enlisting. You can do as you please about sending that Box. If you have not got it ready you need not send it. But if you have got it all ready to send you may send it. Well Mati I could think of lots to write if I had time to Write and felt more like writing. But I guess this will do for this time. If you are a going to get Married why in Thunder dont you say so. Not ask me what I think a bout it.
I dont care who you marry I am sure. I calculate to tend to my own afairs and let others do the same. Does Montrose think of going into the 9th N.Y. Cav? I thought if he did he would go back when “Joe Foster” did. Tell Pa to write and tell me if he thinks I am sure of the Town and county Bounty. If they cheat me out of the Bounty I shall Back out for I am not past yet untill I get sworn in. Write soon Mati. Our Regt is a going to have a new Stand of Veteran Culers [Colors].
Adrian
94th Regt. N.Y.V.V.s
Camp Parole Annapolis Md
February 12th / 64
Dearest Sarah
I will write you a few lines this evning if I can think of any thing to write. I came off guard this morning and I feel more like sleeping than writing. But I recd your letter this morning therefore I consider it a duty as well as a Privlage to answer it. There is not much news here except We are all well and harty and have a good deal of duty to do now as about 130 of the Boys have gon home on furlough. They left here day before yesterday and as soon as they get back the rest of us will get ours. It will be some time in March before I shall get home. But that is soon eneough. I hope the folks will be making [maple] shugar then. I dont know as I cair about going to any “Surprise partys” though. But I would like well enough to go to “Erast” [Erastus French] wedding. Wonder if they wont get married expressly to qualify my curiosaty of seeing a wedding. I suppose the Boys that was home on furloughs had gay old times. I mean to make evry minet of my time count for I dont expect to get home again until the war is ended. Amost all of our Regt. have reenlisted. I did not think so many would reenlist. We are bound to be a V.V. Regement sure.
There is a stand of cullers [colors] down to the City that is to be presented to us as soon as we are all musterd in. I expect we shall have a great time when they are presented to us. I would not advise “Irving” [Flint, Sarah’s brother] to enlist unless there is danger of his being drafted. Irving would make a good Soldier though. He would be worth more than twenty like Orville [Flint, Sarah’s brother] or Montrose eather. I dont believe Montrose will stand Soldiering long. I dont believe he is very tough any way. Sadie I cant help thinking of the good times I shall have while I am at home. I cant keep it out of my mind. But then I should like it better if I was coming home to stay and not have to come back a gain. But I have to bear that in mind that I have got to come back here and stay three years perhaps. Well Darling I dont know what more I can write that will be news and I am geting awfuly slepy and I must go to Bed So good night Dear Sadie and pleasant dreams to you. Sauterday morning. [February 14, 1864] Sadie I will finish this Scrawl of a letter this morning. I am not on duty to day. I expected to go on guard again to day but I shant until to morrow. We are having splendid weather now. It is warm and pleasant like May days in Catt [Cattaraugus]. There hasnt been any snow here since the first of January. How would you like to live in such a Country as this. But there is mud eneough some times to make up for the lack of snow. Co. A. are having a gay time this morning. They are making more nois than a whole Regt had ought to. Thy just took one of their Boys and put him into a Blanket then all take
hold of the Blanket and tost [tossed] him up and down for a half an hour at a time. It is nearly as bad punishment as a showr bath. “Soldiers are great fellows for sport” when they have nothing else to do. Well Dearest I guess I will bring this long mess to a close. I shall have more to tell you when I get home than would fill four such sheets so I will wate till then. Write soon please Darling for “Add” wants to hear from you often.
Truly your loving Adrian
P.S. Never mind adressing your letters in care of Col. Root. The mail is so aranged now that there is no need of it. Excuse this large sheet of paper. I wish I could fill it with something interesting dont you?
Sadie Adrian
Camp Parole Annapolis Md
Febuary 22d 1864
Dear Father
You can go to the Express offace at great Valley and get $230.00 dollars that I expressed to day. I was musterd in the 13th of Febuary and received $250.00 dollars My old Co Bounty 75 of my new Bounty and 6 months pay. I am well as usal. Will probly be at home in a bout a month from now. You can keep the Money until I get home or pay what is Due on the place just as you think best. That is all this time.
Respectfuly yours
Adrian Fay
PS I have paid the Expressage.
Camp Parole Md
Feb 28th / 64
Dearest
Your letter was gladly recd Thursday morning. I was so glad to hear from you Sadie. You cant guess how glad “Add” is to get a letter from you. I have neglected answering it because I count not think of any thing to tell you that will be news. But if I could see you I guess I could think of somthing to say to you. You need not think you are a going to do all the talking. I shall say somthing I guess. And I shouldnt wonder if you got as tired of hearing me talk as you do of
that “Mr Dolph” you tell so much of. What kind of a fool is he any way? I think you was smart to leave him as you did. Didnt you ask him to call a gain? You and Kie are awful girls. Would you dair treat a “Soldier” in that way? “I dont think you would.” 16 more days and then I shall be looking for my furlough. That isnt a great while is it? It wont seem long to me now. I suppose you are glad your school is out and you free from all the duteys and cairs of the School room once more. And there is one more thing that makes me glad. And that is if Harveys folks are going a way. I hope thy will go before I get there.
Tell Kie that my “Phalings” are that “Phene” wont be much of a loss to comunity or Mrs Harvey eather. But for all that they will be missed. But I dont know who will “mourn” their loss. Sadie I cant think of any thing to write you to night. I shall be on guard to morrow and I shall have to leave you for to night and go to sleep so I can keep a wake to morrow night. Write as soon as you get this Darling and you will please your own Adrian. So good night my Precious and excuse me for not writing more. I have not time this evning. I will come and see you soon Sadie. Good night.
Ever your 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.