ADRIAN FAY 1865 LETTERS
June 1865
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Home June 1st .65
My own dear Husband
I rec’d your letter of the 27th last night and you may be sure that it was gladly welcomed though after I read the scolding you gave me I was not so glad. I shant scold you easy a bit so just prepare yourself for a regular out-and-out talking to when you get home. I cant scold on paper and do the subject justice so prefer to wait till I see you. I have just come from Ellicottville. Minia and I went up after four o’clock, came back by Peth [a locality in the Town of Great Valley] and got home about 9. Mother Fay has been down here to see what Add wrote. Wonder what she’d have thought if could have read your letter. I told her some that you wrote. Dear did you think I would blame you for writing what you heard about Mary after I had
asked you to write it? Pshaw Add. What is the harm in your telling me that? Aren’t we one? And haven’t I a perfect right to ask my husband whatever I please? I can’t believe that about Mary after all. It dont seem possible that she could be so bad as that. It must be some mistake I think for I dont believe she would ever have any thing to do with Ann Nelson any way and Ann must have meant some other girl. I saw Mary last Sunday. She looked soberer than usual and I asked her what the matter was. She said she wished she could feel as happy and light-hearted as I did and had as much happiness to look to in the future as I had. I told her I’d change places with her for a little while if she would but she said “Sati you dont know what you are saying.” I guess I wouldn’t change with her after all for I have got the dearest best Husband in the world and she hasn’t so I dont think ‘twould be an even swap.
Christine and Leona Ames came to see me yesterday, also Lydia Miller. Christine said she supposed you was dead until she saw our wedding in the paper. She said she was never so surprised in all her life as when she saw it. She is the same Christine she always was only more so and I had a real good visit with her and Lydia. I got a long letter from Marie yesterday. A whole sheet of foolscap written all over and crosswise. She is going to be married to Mr. E. C. Tuttle so I expect I shall have a new Uncle. Uncle Abraham was over to day and he said that Uncle Weston said that Sarah had got as fine a young man as there was in Gt Valley. Dont we feel complemented Add? Ed Wilcox got home Tuesday so I suppose Zine is as happy as can be. Well I dont envy her any only I do wish my Soldier would come home. I will be patient though and not complain though it seems a long long time since you went away. Good night Darling.
Sati
June 2nd
I wonder if they wont let the Soldiers all come home now as the last rebel General [Joseph E. Johnston] has surrendered. I cant see what possible use they can have for the men any longer. I was reading Pres’t Johnson’s proclamation last night. I should think by that that he thought most of the Southern men were guilty of treason and I am glad of it. I dont believe though that Lincoln would ever have issued so stringent a proclamation. Dont be alarmed Darling about my getting tired of your letters. That’s impossible and as to the nonsense I must confess that I “can’t see it”. Love makes folks blind you know so if some one else should read our letters they might call them nonsensical but as long as we dont think so whose business is it what we write to each other. It is warm smoky weather now. We have had no rain in a long time and everything is suffering from drought.
You folks down in Washington get all this rain I guess for we dont have any here. I am not going to get the Blues because the Veterans dont come home but I should really like to see some of them. That [Grand] Review must have been a splendid sight. I have just been reading an account of it in the Tribune and I could almost see it from the description. But my imagination I suppose would fall far short of the reality. Poor Jeff! [Confederate President Jefferson Davis] It is too bad that he has to eat the same rations that our common soldiers do. He ought to have something a little extra such fare as he gave our prisoners for instance. That might have a beneficial effect on him. At least ‘twould make him content with his present fare. He needn’t worry about it for the Government will take such good care of him that he wont need any rations after awhile. I dont know why your folks dont write to you. I guess Mati has written two or
three times. Perhaps they think that I write so often that you wouldnt get time to read any other letters. I told them what you said about their not writing so maybe you’ll get a letter before long. It is oh so warm here. I wish ‘twould rain. If we dont have rain soon every thing will die. Ett is calling me to go and help milk so good bye till I get back. Biddie [Sarah] has got all her chores done so now she can write again. It is a splendid moonlight evening. Minia has just come from the [Post] Office but I didn’t get any letter. Weston [Flint, Sarah’s brother] is coming home in about three weeks. He has been very sick but is better now. Clark has gone to Sawmill Run this week so Mollie is alone. I wish they (I dont know who they are but suppose it’s the President and Cabinet) would let us know what they are going to do with our Soldier Boys. One Paper will say they are all coming and the next week will contradict it so I dont see what we can believe. I am not going to believe anything
and shall not look for you until I see you coming. Isn’t that the best way? Seems to me Add that you have a very lively imagination. You must have been looking ahead considerable. Then you think you are a lucky boy? Wait awhile and see if you come to the same conclusion. I am afraid you will put u.n. before the lucky. Poor Isaac! [probably Isaac Markham] I should think as much. Aren’t you sorry that you didn’t leave him in undisputed possession of Sallie? He will never forgive you for getting her away from him. Will you scold me Dear if I tell you that I am going to have my hair cut off tight to my head? I shant know whether you scold or not until after it is off and then it will be too late. You wont know me when you come back with my short wig and short dresses. How I do want to see you. It seems as if I could never wait for you to come. How glad I’d be if I could be with you. I hope we can be with each other always after this war is over. I must go to bed early tonight for we’re going to have lots of
company tomorrow. Add you darling I should love you to death if you were here tonight. As it is I shall have to wait till you come then you may be sure that you will never get away again. I must stop now and go to sleep. Here are more than a bushel of kisses from your loving and true wife.
Sarah F.
God bless and protect my noble Soldier Boy
June 3d
I suppose you have a distinct recollection of a year ago today haven’t you?
Sadie
NOTE: “A year ago today”, June 3, 1864, Adrian was captured on a skirmish line near Bethesda Church, Virginia, at the Battle of Cold Harbor. From there began his nine-month imprisonment at Andersonville, GA and Florence, SC.
Co. I. 94th N.Y.V.
June 4th .65
My Dear Wife
I recived your letter Friday night. You must excuse me Dear for not answering it before. It has been so everlasting warm for the last 3 days we could hardly keep from roasting a live. I couldnt write or do any thing else. It is verry warm to day. But “Dave” [Southwick] wanted to write to his new Brother in law Wm Washburn” and I wanted to write to my little Wife so we concluded we would go off into the woods and then all alone to our selvs we could write and not be molested by the crazy Boys in Camp. I got that letter you and Mati wrote last night (I never). What crazy things you Girls are
geting to be. You are enough to astonish eaven a Soldier especialy a sober steady one as I am. My advice to “Wilder” is that he leaves the country forth with for fear of asassination. [Elijah] “Bullard” and I aint going to stand it any longer. These one years subs getting Big Bountys for coming as far as “Elmira” to crush the Rebelion, and then after others have crushed it, fought, Bled, hung around Hospitalsand Parole Camps as Mr. B. and My self have. It is a shame to have it said that such (Honorable men) should be superseeded at home and their Wiveseaven threaten to run a way with a one year sub. That alone shows the extent of their Patriotisam. It would be better for us if we were two ship Wrecked Rats on some lone Island far better than to be Husbands of
such unfaithful untruthful (Oh! I cant half express it) Wives as you and Mrs. B is. Must we come down and say it is all right. Bear such grievences paitintly? Or shall we openly and Boldly demand our right? Mr. B. and myself will have a private intercourse over this little afair. (It is but a trifle I know in comparison with our many other engoyments of life). But none the less we are not the men to be ronged in the least. And eaven the Old Maid says she will have satisfaction. Well eneough of this. But go on if you think there is no hierafter. Dave has finished his letter and now I spose he wants to go to camp. But I cant go yet for I mean to finish this first. The sun is just pelting right down. It is hot enough to rost eggs. I am sure Mati
wouldnt need any Hot Bedsto start her Flour seeds in if she was here. You said I must turn my face to the Wall for fear of geting skared. (not my stile) A soldier is always supposed to face to the front, and they are not skared at trifels eather. You and Mati dont know me yet. Maybe youll think I am a rough Boy. You had better not write another such a letter to me a gain. If you do Ill open with long range and youll be oblige to surender as willingly as Gen. “Lee” did. You will Please excuse me now for dinner call has blowed and there is fear of me not getting any dinner if I dont go to Camp. This letter dont look quite as bad as the one you and Mati wrote. But it is eakuly [equally] as poor writing. But I must quit.
From your Add
[Written upside down at the top of page one:]
I think you and Mati Both are fit subjects for the insane asilum. You may think I am when you read this But I aint.
June 5th .65
Dear Add:
I hope you will have time and patience enough to read all I see fit to write to you. I got Irving [Flint, Sarah’s brother] and Charlie [Adrian’s brother] to go to the Office tonight and I am writing to keep myself awake till they come back and if I dont get a letter I shall go to bed and cry my eyes out. If you don’t wish me to lose my “little eyes” entirely you will have to write often. Clark has been down here tonight. I guess he and Mati are going to Salamanca tomorrow. He said he was going to take a ride. I have an invite to go with them and would go if ‘twas not for the work but Biddie must be steady and not be cutting round with the young folks or her work will not be half done. Mati has got her hair bobbed off short and Clark said he
would cut mine if I’d come up there so I’m going up first to see him and get my hair cut. Marm Bullard is convalescent I believe. I never saw two bigger fools than Cordelia and Elijah [Bullard]. Its perfectly scandalous they way they talk and act. It makes me think of what Grandpa used to say about a young couple. Well there I forgot but what I was talking to you instead of writing. The “Skeeters” are determined to make me retreat but I still hold my ground though I have been wounded several times. They are getting reenforcements I guess for there is about a bushel of these little “Punkies” pestering me and they are worse than the Skeeters for the Skeeter lets a fellow know when he’s coming. Oh Dear I wish Irving would hurry for I’m getting very sleepy and cant keep awake much longer. Well those boys came at last just after I had departed for the land of dreams and the first thing I heard was “Hurrah Sallie a letter for you”. I jumped out rather sudden and was downstairs in about half a minute and now I am not sleepy a bit. Charlie is here staying with Irving. June 7th. I calculated to finish this last night but was sick so I couldn’t. Your Mother staid here all night. I am better this morning but do not feel very well yet. We have lots of fun Mati and I with Clark. Oh dear my head aches like fury. I cant write any more. When I feel better I will answer your letter but now I must stop.
As ever
Sarah
Elmira N.Y.
June 13th / 65
Dear Wife
I have beat them at last and Im on my way home. I am wating here for my pay. Probly shant get it till Thursday or Friday. I am in a hury and cant write much this time so good bye till I come.
Yours as ever
Adrian
Look for me about the last of this week
Add
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.