Culture

1860: The little fairy, Dollie Dutton, finished her series of entertainments to the inhabitants of Brattleboro in the Town Hall on Monday evening. While she herself os but nine years old, measuring 29 inches in height and weighing 15 pounds, she was assisted and sustained by two other persons, upon whose births the reverse ends of a powerful magnifying glass had seemed to smile in respective proportions.

Clifton Farm, Va.

Sept. 15^th, 1864.

Dearest Abiah,

Went on picket Monday. Left a letter to be sent out that night, as there was a man going out, but came in and still find it here. It was not sent by some mistake, so now will let it go for what it is worth, and give you a new addition. We see no signs of moving, but we never know what the day may bring forth. We went on picket Monday, as I said before. On Tuesday our division were taken out on a scout towards Winchester. They went out about five miles and came back at some time in the night between 10 and 11.

Clifton Farm, Va.

Sept. 12^th, 1864. 

Dearest Abiah,-

Here we are yet, only our regiment has been moved down nearer the river and are doing picket duty by themselves. Came here Saturday. Saw Zopher just before we came; the same morning.

Perhaps it will do to talk a little about that commission. I have not wanted to say much about it heretofore, but it is probably not very far off. I received a note from Major Foster’s office with regard to the chances of three of us. James Tinkham Capt. There were then ten that preceded him and 21 ahead of me and W. S. Myers he was second Lieut. There were 43 preceding him.

Clifton Farm, Va. Sept. 9^th, 1864.

Dear Cousin:-

Here I am, just about 1 ½ miles north of Berryville, Shenandoah Valley, Virginia. I promised to write to you when in Washington, but have had so much to do that until within the past two weeks have had time to write to anyone, except my wife. I will give you a history of our movements since joining the regiment. Passed the Casey Board in Washington as first Lieut. for colored troops June 12^th, went to Camp Distribution June 14^th, drew arms and equipment that night (mine had been turned over at Brattleboro) next morning took a transport for Bermuda Hundred, reached there the third day after leaving Alexander. We went to City Point and the 6^th Army Corps had just crossed the Potomac and were in front of Petersburgh. Went up there and reported June 20^th for the places I shall mention. I will refer you to Leslie’s Illustrated Paper for Sept. 10^th.

Thursday morning, Sept. 8^th. I am here still in the old place, after cleaning up our company street, carrying off beef bones, scrap of beef that could not be eaten and bushels of cobs, husks, apple pearings, and had bean pods (you see there is plenty to eat). Those of us that could not draw the charges from our guns went out and fired them off. Was wiping out the gun when Zopher came over to see me. He is looking extremely well. Looks fresh and in good flesh. Was very glad to see him. The report is that the Johnnies are reported to have left, but I never put any confidence in reports after the fight on the 21^st of August I was quite unwell until the next Friday morning. That morning I got up all right. My legs were so sore that I could hardly step.

  Camp-near Berryville-Sept. 7, 1864.

Dearest Abiah –

It is sometime since I have written, but it would have made no difference, as there has been no chance to send out letters since we came here until last night, and then I was away after some water and a few apples to stew. We have to go some distance for green corn and apples now. We will soon clean out a hundred acres of corn. We came here Saturday morning. I had just before written to Mary Ann and to Father. Since we came here have been pretty still. Have worked one night building breast works and then were marched back. The breast work was built on our right facing Winchester. I have not seen Zopher since I wrote to Mary Ann, but the 3d Division has been in no fights since the first was in, the night we came here expected to have to go out, but the Rebs ran their heads against something that hurt them and hauled off.