GOODELL FAMILY LETTERS- #22
 

Anson to Parents

Camp Oliver
Newbern, N.C.
Sept 1, 1863

Dear Parents

            Now that the Pay and Muster rolls and other business of the Company is completed, I am seated to write you again. My last was date Aug. 30.

            Yesterday we were mustered and far as I know my rolls are accepted. If they don’t come back to be made out over again, I shall be thankful as well as surprised as this was my first attempt and it will be strange for it is so much writing I made no mistakes.

            I found it no small task to write 82 names twice on each four rolls then give when – where and by whom each man was enlisted then when & by whom mustered into service on each roll and when and by whom and to what time, last paid, then in a list of remarks tell where every man that is absent may be found and opposite each man’s name give the amount of clothing he had during the year. Sergt. Perry being at home this task fell to me.

            I like to write for it gives me practice in penmanship which I need very much. I wrote you last Saturday that Edwin is in the General Hospital. I should go and see him today if I felt smart enough but my strength has not fully returned from being sick and my labors for the past few days left me quite jaded and weary. But I have just received a letter from Edwin that will be so well as though I had seen him.

            He says “ I am well situated here, have just all I want to eat and that which is nice. We have a great variety of sauces, jellies, etc. I will tell you what they set on my stand for dinner today – a slice of toast, beef steak – tomatto [sp.] sauce, cherry jell and some nice soup in a mug. They told me to eat all I wanted of it for whatever a man hankered for would not hurt him. I am a little better since getting where I have enough to eat. I have a pleasant room. There are only two or three real sick men and of thirty two beds not half of them occupied.”

            The prospects are not quite as strong that we shall go on picket this week as Maj. Atwood Comdg. the three companies here has given orders for Company and Battalion drills and Dress Parade each day.

            Our Capt. has gone to Beaufort to stay awhile and recruit his health. Stratton our 2nd Lieut. is home on furlough so that we have but one Officer now 1st Lieut. Tew. He has been with us but a short time yet we like him well. There seems to be quite as much man to him as the Officers will average.

            By the way, it is a fact outrageously prominent in this Dept. that the great majority of our officers are far below the common standard of morals at home. It is no use of talking of this standard of Army morals. He is the best man that can be the greatest libertine and drink the heartiest without getting beastly drunk. This is sad but astonishingly “more true than poetic.” I could tell some things of one Stevenson now Brig. Gen. With Gilmore that are too disgraceful to put on paper. If there is an Army that deserves annihilation for its wickedness the federal army most certainly does.

            My strength is coming back slowly and I hope to be tough and heart as ever soon but I get most discouraged at times and think Soldiering is about played out with me -  however the Capt. is very kind to me and the Lieut. will let me do anything I want to – having no guard duty is a great relief to me. I wish I could have steady employment for both hands and head, my health would be better the doctor says


[1]Cornelius Gilbert Attwood of Boston, MA.

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