Homer Curtiss, 19th C.V.I., October 7, 1863
Title
Homer Curtiss, 19th C.V.I., October 7, 1863
Subject
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
United States. Army. Connecticut Infantry Regiment, 19th (1862-1863)
Soldiers--Books and reading
United States--Foreign relations--Great Britain
United States--Foreign relations--Russia
Description
Homer Curtiss writes to his family with a list of books he is sending home, beginning artillery training, and a discussion of current events and European governments' attitudes to the war.
Date
1863-10-07
Text
Fort Ellsmore Oct 7th
Dear Girls, I send by Adam's
Express in a box of S.N. Taylor's some
trumpery that may be pleasing to a certain
degree as follows
Vol. 1 Kinglake's "Invasion of the Crimea".
Walton's "Complete Angler".
Wonthrop's "Cecil Dreeme"
Morford's "Shoulder Straps".
[unclear] Prayer Book
42d Pa. Vol. "Bucktails" Ambrotype
Bundle Letters and papers
Austin gave me the "Straps" all the others
I acquired honestly enough. I'm not very
Episcopalian of late hence the Prayer Book.
I thought a good deal of the story of "Deeme"
and of the vignettes in the "Angler" and the
Invasion is splendid. Very best style
[page 2]
Mon morning, Cos. "B," "E," "A," + "K" have gone up
to Fort Worth "F," "F," + "I" are at Fort Williams.
"C," "I," + "H" at Fort Ellsworth. Cap. Hubbard
is in command of Ft. Worth. Rice of of Ft. Ellsmore
and Ells of Ft. William. Maj. Smith is
command of the 19th. Col. Kellogg is on a
Cour Martial up at Fort Albanu. The 2d
Brigade Def. S. of Potomac is broken and
reconstructed with Lt. Col. Louis Scheuer
of 15th N.Y.A. in command, and we of the
19th with our fortifications +c. are turned over
to the 1st Brigade Def. S. of Potomac. Co. Abbott
of the 1st C.V.A. in command. Kellogg
will take command of us as soon as he
is off the court martical, and then hurrah
for battalion drills and like beauties.
The Co. is now running the Light Art. machines
mostly. Lt. Berry puts Dan and I though
on battery movements. All are green yet.
No word from any where. No fighting, no
change of base even. Our business flags
but I guess somthing will break soon.
[page 3]
Mason's playing out at St. James and
the detention of the Laird rams, taken in
connection with the 30 per ct. discount on
the loan in London does not seem to
promise speedy recognition from Lord Pam
tho. Nappy is ugly enough to make us
trouble in Mexico, but I do not believe will.
I have some faith that the evident sympathy
between U. Sam + the Czar will be of great
use to us in Europe. Nap backed out
of the Polish business so suddenly upon
leaving the rumor of alliance between U.S.
+ Alexander that I have great hope of
his plan. I don't see the end quite, but
it looks more as though there might be an
end eventually than it did in June.
Austin had a note from Dr. White
just now. Dr. is in Washington or Alex.
Wrote from Willards, but thought he might
come down to Alex. last evening.
I spent Monday in Washington. One of
the pleasantest days of my life. Dan went
[page 4]
up with me and such a nice time you
seldom see. I'll speak of it anon.
Good day
Homer
Dear Girls, I send by Adam's
Express in a box of S.N. Taylor's some
trumpery that may be pleasing to a certain
degree as follows
Vol. 1 Kinglake's "Invasion of the Crimea".
Walton's "Complete Angler".
Wonthrop's "Cecil Dreeme"
Morford's "Shoulder Straps".
[unclear] Prayer Book
42d Pa. Vol. "Bucktails" Ambrotype
Bundle Letters and papers
Austin gave me the "Straps" all the others
I acquired honestly enough. I'm not very
Episcopalian of late hence the Prayer Book.
I thought a good deal of the story of "Deeme"
and of the vignettes in the "Angler" and the
Invasion is splendid. Very best style
[page 2]
Mon morning, Cos. "B," "E," "A," + "K" have gone up
to Fort Worth "F," "F," + "I" are at Fort Williams.
"C," "I," + "H" at Fort Ellsworth. Cap. Hubbard
is in command of Ft. Worth. Rice of of Ft. Ellsmore
and Ells of Ft. William. Maj. Smith is
command of the 19th. Col. Kellogg is on a
Cour Martial up at Fort Albanu. The 2d
Brigade Def. S. of Potomac is broken and
reconstructed with Lt. Col. Louis Scheuer
of 15th N.Y.A. in command, and we of the
19th with our fortifications +c. are turned over
to the 1st Brigade Def. S. of Potomac. Co. Abbott
of the 1st C.V.A. in command. Kellogg
will take command of us as soon as he
is off the court martical, and then hurrah
for battalion drills and like beauties.
The Co. is now running the Light Art. machines
mostly. Lt. Berry puts Dan and I though
on battery movements. All are green yet.
No word from any where. No fighting, no
change of base even. Our business flags
but I guess somthing will break soon.
[page 3]
Mason's playing out at St. James and
the detention of the Laird rams, taken in
connection with the 30 per ct. discount on
the loan in London does not seem to
promise speedy recognition from Lord Pam
tho. Nappy is ugly enough to make us
trouble in Mexico, but I do not believe will.
I have some faith that the evident sympathy
between U. Sam + the Czar will be of great
use to us in Europe. Nap backed out
of the Polish business so suddenly upon
leaving the rumor of alliance between U.S.
+ Alexander that I have great hope of
his plan. I don't see the end quite, but
it looks more as though there might be an
end eventually than it did in June.
Austin had a note from Dr. White
just now. Dr. is in Washington or Alex.
Wrote from Willards, but thought he might
come down to Alex. last evening.
I spent Monday in Washington. One of
the pleasantest days of my life. Dan went
[page 4]
up with me and such a nice time you
seldom see. I'll speak of it anon.
Good day
Homer
Original Format
ALS
Files
Citation
“Homer Curtiss, 19th C.V.I., October 7, 1863,” Linda Lear Center Digital Collections and Exhibitions, accessed May 3, 2024, https://lc-digital.conncoll.edu/items/show/1725.