Homer Curtiss, 19th C.V.I., April 3, 1863
Title
Homer Curtiss, 19th C.V.I., April 3, 1863
Subject
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Soldiers--Books and reading
Copperhead movement
United States. Army. Connecticut Infantry Regiment, 19th (1862-1863)
Date
1863-04-03
Text
Fort Worth April 3rd 1863
Dear Our Folk I can write as well as not to day
and as there is no one in the world that I like to write to
except you away I go Capt. Sperry double quick.
I write partly because I must as the poetaster versed
and partly because I have some pictures for your album.
I am going to give you a succinct biography of each of
these art productions so far as I know. The ambrotype
is a very good (for the country) likeness of our friend
Frank Hamer. I wonder those artists will use so much
brass on their types, but brass aside the picture is a pretty
good one. I think it possible you may remember him from
this picture. I think he had that same red check shirt
of [unclear] Dutton memory but the whiskers are brown now
and a ver great improvement I think. The
graph was taken by Bowdoin + Lapler, 204 King St.
Alex. Va. Apr. 4th 1863. The carte was picked up
down near Alex. and is some Fulton brother I think. You may keep it rather as a relic of the campaign
of the 19th in Alex. than as a friendly face.
[page 2]
I got so engrossed with the Atlantic that I could not write
any more yesterday (This is Monday morn) What a capital
No. the April is. I have read it nearly all, which is more
than I could do by the March issue which was a mite dull.
"A spasm of Sense" is bully though I think Gail wrote it.
"A Failure of the North" is just what it should be, it expresses
my sentiments fully and in a great deal better language
than I could have used. I think the "Atlantic" sustains
itself splendidly in these dark days. How I do wish the
papers would copy its style. They would be more read-
able. You ought to see the trash that is bought to read
here in camp. I have never bought any literature more
than "Martin Chuzzlewit" but that is incomparably better
than 99/100ths of what is brought in. Bold highwaymen and
blood + thunder are the rage. I asked one of the book
boys who frequent camp why he did not bring along some
thing better. Dickens, Lever or Thackery? He was a fair
kind of a boy, quite decent and has been long in the
business. "Why" said he "I will tell you sir. the standard
literary novels like Dickens and the rest you spoke of cost
more, and do not sell nearly as well as these. Rum
they are better, but these blood + thunder stories are all the
rage in camp. I must sell those that sell best."
[page 3]
I have no taste for such books, but some of the boys
in the tent have read the Ledger till they really suppose
S. Cobb Jr. +C are all the writers this age furnishes. Such
boys as Alf G. + Gustave B. read them incessantly and
I am sorry to say that Arlo + Irwin run in that way
only they go in for Ballou + other Boston lights instead
of the poorfellows, not quite so bad I allow.
Monday eve - I have been on duty to day for the first in
nearly two weeks, as it has been uniformly unpleasant for
most of that period, I have lost but little, but only drill.
I found it very difficult to remember my right hand
from my left, as I was acting right quide a 1st sergeant
it seemed rather awkward not to know my hands apart.
We have jolly drills these days as Lt. Berry is home on
a furlough with the boys. Lt. Marsh in the hospital and
Capt. never drils us if he can help it, so we sergeants
have all the drilling to do, we learn ourselves a little
and rather damage the Co. I think. However the boys
bear our mistakes very well, and it is some help to
us. I suppose there is a great fuss up in old
Conn today. I hear Tom Seymour will run in but
hope not and that is all I can do about it.
I hope the Lord will deliver us from Copperheads.
[page 4]
You know I was an ardent supporter of McClellan
before I came from home, and more so after I saw
him, but I am fully cured today. I have just
finished the report of the "Com. on the conduct of the
War" and I am now thoroughly cured of my love
for the living Napoleon! I have had spasms of
disgust before, but now I am cured.
The same report vindicates Burnside so effectively
that I love him more than ever, though I never
distrusted him yet, and our dear of father
Abraham, he is but very little lower than the
angels. He has proved himself to be an [unclear]
truly in show is no guile. I was so taken
with Gen Burnside, so fascinated with him
that I went right out of my qrs and bought
the best picture of him that I ever saw. I
send it to you hoping to meet it again. Keep
Gen B's carte for the love I have borne him and
give Ambrose the best place you can afford him
I hope yet to be able to fight under Ambrose
if so I will do my utmost
commend to me Gen Burnside, God bless him!
Yours very truly Homer
Dear Our Folk I can write as well as not to day
and as there is no one in the world that I like to write to
except you away I go Capt. Sperry double quick.
I write partly because I must as the poetaster versed
and partly because I have some pictures for your album.
I am going to give you a succinct biography of each of
these art productions so far as I know. The ambrotype
is a very good (for the country) likeness of our friend
Frank Hamer. I wonder those artists will use so much
brass on their types, but brass aside the picture is a pretty
good one. I think it possible you may remember him from
this picture. I think he had that same red check shirt
of [unclear] Dutton memory but the whiskers are brown now
and a ver great improvement I think. The
graph was taken by Bowdoin + Lapler, 204 King St.
Alex. Va. Apr. 4th 1863. The carte was picked up
down near Alex. and is some Fulton brother I think. You may keep it rather as a relic of the campaign
of the 19th in Alex. than as a friendly face.
[page 2]
I got so engrossed with the Atlantic that I could not write
any more yesterday (This is Monday morn) What a capital
No. the April is. I have read it nearly all, which is more
than I could do by the March issue which was a mite dull.
"A spasm of Sense" is bully though I think Gail wrote it.
"A Failure of the North" is just what it should be, it expresses
my sentiments fully and in a great deal better language
than I could have used. I think the "Atlantic" sustains
itself splendidly in these dark days. How I do wish the
papers would copy its style. They would be more read-
able. You ought to see the trash that is bought to read
here in camp. I have never bought any literature more
than "Martin Chuzzlewit" but that is incomparably better
than 99/100ths of what is brought in. Bold highwaymen and
blood + thunder are the rage. I asked one of the book
boys who frequent camp why he did not bring along some
thing better. Dickens, Lever or Thackery? He was a fair
kind of a boy, quite decent and has been long in the
business. "Why" said he "I will tell you sir. the standard
literary novels like Dickens and the rest you spoke of cost
more, and do not sell nearly as well as these. Rum
they are better, but these blood + thunder stories are all the
rage in camp. I must sell those that sell best."
[page 3]
I have no taste for such books, but some of the boys
in the tent have read the Ledger till they really suppose
S. Cobb Jr. +C are all the writers this age furnishes. Such
boys as Alf G. + Gustave B. read them incessantly and
I am sorry to say that Arlo + Irwin run in that way
only they go in for Ballou + other Boston lights instead
of the poorfellows, not quite so bad I allow.
Monday eve - I have been on duty to day for the first in
nearly two weeks, as it has been uniformly unpleasant for
most of that period, I have lost but little, but only drill.
I found it very difficult to remember my right hand
from my left, as I was acting right quide a 1st sergeant
it seemed rather awkward not to know my hands apart.
We have jolly drills these days as Lt. Berry is home on
a furlough with the boys. Lt. Marsh in the hospital and
Capt. never drils us if he can help it, so we sergeants
have all the drilling to do, we learn ourselves a little
and rather damage the Co. I think. However the boys
bear our mistakes very well, and it is some help to
us. I suppose there is a great fuss up in old
Conn today. I hear Tom Seymour will run in but
hope not and that is all I can do about it.
I hope the Lord will deliver us from Copperheads.
[page 4]
You know I was an ardent supporter of McClellan
before I came from home, and more so after I saw
him, but I am fully cured today. I have just
finished the report of the "Com. on the conduct of the
War" and I am now thoroughly cured of my love
for the living Napoleon! I have had spasms of
disgust before, but now I am cured.
The same report vindicates Burnside so effectively
that I love him more than ever, though I never
distrusted him yet, and our dear of father
Abraham, he is but very little lower than the
angels. He has proved himself to be an [unclear]
truly in show is no guile. I was so taken
with Gen Burnside, so fascinated with him
that I went right out of my qrs and bought
the best picture of him that I ever saw. I
send it to you hoping to meet it again. Keep
Gen B's carte for the love I have borne him and
give Ambrose the best place you can afford him
I hope yet to be able to fight under Ambrose
if so I will do my utmost
commend to me Gen Burnside, God bless him!
Yours very truly Homer
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Citation
“Homer Curtiss, 19th C.V.I., April 3, 1863,” Linda Lear Center Digital Collections and Exhibitions, accessed April 20, 2024, https://lc-digital.conncoll.edu/items/show/1726.