CWT Serial 1 Seth & M

[johan_steele]

Mrs M.

This letter has been placed into the hands of a young negro boy who has promised to deliver it from my hands to yours. It is vital that I know that this method bypasses the view of your mistress as Mrs. Steele intends to send you two more notes and one is of the most private importance.

We would like nothing better than to attend you at dinner and Mrs. Steele has spoken that in such a way tyhat I think she would enjoy your company again. You likely have already discovered that she is not of the most trusting towards outsiders in our camp. I think she believes most women here to be sympathetic to the secesch. I have stressed to her that we speak with you of nothing that could be used against the army. She shakes her head and calls me foolish to believe such is not a possobility.

I eagerly wait a chess game with you as I am tired of being beaten by that rascal Corporal Steele. I am hoping to teach Keving to play so that I will have someone to beat! I have taught both Mrs. Steele and William and enjoy the game very much. I welcome the opportunity and challenge of another mind to fence with.

I must end this note as the young boy is busily hopping from one foot to another in a queer sort of dance. I fear if this is not placed in his hand he will depart never to return and i will have to discover another way to send this to you.

Corporal Steele, has told me to include a phrase to you in French. I hope that I have properly trancribed his words. He will not tell me what it means; only that it is a fitting phrase with which to end a letter to a lady. "Mai l'ombre de votre beauté n'accroissent jamais moins."

Seth Barnaby

[dawna]

Dear Mr. Barnaby:

It was with reluctance that I stepped out this morning into a blanket of gray mist, only to discover a young negro boy waiting across the street like a quizzical puppy, in hopes of finding his lost master. But it was with pleasure that I received your letter and only through the utmost determination that I post-poned it's reading, since M. Josephine expected my return by early afternoon.

I insisted that your boy retire (Erik could not extract a name from him?) to our kitchen and warm himself with Erik's soup before returning to camp, which he accepted with the enthusiasm of a starving mongrel. Our cook assured me that he would wrap a portion of bread and cheese in paper for your messenger's trip back to camp - it grieves me to know that a boy so young is left to fend for himself during these dark and trying times.

Since M. Josepine is still indisposed as a result of her recent injury, I have become her unexpected financial messenger, and although I faithfully do Madame's bidding, it is another aspect of her business that I find distasteful. However, please be assured Mr. Barnaby that my sisters are sworn to secrecy and consider your letters to be our new source of dangerous excitement! It is very unlikely that our employer will be in a position to personally receive our mail for quite some time.

I trust that I might speak plainly to you and Mrs. Steele in order to alleviate her concerns regarding the Secesch. In this house we are forbidden to discuss our loyalties, if we harbour such, and if so they are to remain closely guarded secrets. Idle gossip is not tolerated and with a variety of other pressing topics to examine, there is never a need for reproach. We might inquire as to the hardships of war and how we are all affected by it's shortages, but it is common knowledge that the threshold of M. Josephine's establishment is rooted in complete disengagement.

I trust that you are well and I look forward to your visit with the Corporal and Mrs. Steele. Mon jeu d'échec vous attends.

For William: I fall into the trap laid for me; yet who would have suspected ambush where I was taken?" Shakespeare

M.
(Mattie) Maxine Fuller Temple

[johan_steele]

Mrs. M

The company is to be on detached duty for the next several days and I will endeavour to inform you of our return upon our arrival. William and I shared musement over your last note. The young negro boy has been a boy of all works for more than a year; he also works as a runner tasked with carrying messages from our camp to a detached work site where a few of the company men have been cutting wood and trimming trees in preperation for the spring campaign.

He wandered into our camp well over a year ago during the siege of Vicksburg. He had run away from a plantation and swum the mighty Mississippi river to find freedom in our lines. He was a waif so thin that his hip bones were quite pronounced, but he was strong and willing to earn his keep; which he has so many times over we scarce can think of life without him. At the time of his arrival he insisted his name was "Seven" as that was what the overseer had called him for as long as he could remember. He told us that when Union Cavalry had burned his masters house he had taken the absence of his master and the overseer as a sign that he should run away to freedom. He said that he left no family behind and would make us his new masters. It took us many days to convince him to stop calling us Masters. He has fetched wood, foraged for food and liquor as well as proving that he is one of the best scouts in the regiment. When we were on the march to Chatanooga he was nearly abducted by a civilian who said that he was a runaway. A polite introduction of the civilian into the river by Corporal Steele made our opinion of the matter quite clear and endeared us to his heart.

We now call him "Sven" as we think it a more appropriate name than Seven. He shares our rations and Mrs Steele occasionally pays him coin for his services. We generally try to clothe him but he refuses to wear boots as he says he never has before and they strangle his feet! My sister sent a pair of trousers and a shirt for him in July and combined with a cavalry shell he looks quite good standing ready for parade on Sundays, we have even aquired an overcoat for him from a rebel deserter. He is a good young man and I have no doubt when the Regiment returns home at wars end Sven will return with us.

What amused William and I so was that he ate before he left, apparently was fed by your cook, ate upon his arrival back with us, was fed again by the work detail when he carried them a message and finally supped in our mess for supper. We have begun to wonder where he put all of that food as he is certainly not fat.

I am sending along a piece of blue silk ribbon with this message, it is asked that if you have a message for us to place it in a window where Sven can see it as he passes on his way to the work detal. If he sees it he will know to you have a note for us and he will pick it up.

God Bless You

Your most obediant Servant

Seth Barnaby

William sends this as his own bit of the great bard I believe it is taken from Much Ado about Nothing but am not certain: To be a well favoured man is the gift of fortune; but to read and write notes to you is a gift from nature.

[dawna]

Dear Mr. Barnaby:

I have taken the liberty of visiting with Mrs. Steele once again in your absence, with the purpose of loaning the Corporal's wife a book in French that she had expressed interest in during my last visit. Mrs. Steele is now also in possession of my Father's chess set and she has faithfully promised that it will be delivered to you upon your return from Duty. My Father would be well pleased knowing that a game which once gave him such immense joy, is now being used as a pleasant pastime for men in pursuit of a worthy cause. I trust that you will breathe new life into my Father's chess game and that it's years of languishing in a dreary trunk are finally over.

It was with much amusement that I read of Sven's plight. With his child-like fallaciousness, Sven drew Erik and I into an imagined world of Dicken's lost street orphans, without uttering a single word. I am in amazement that a starving child like Sven was able to conquer the mighty Mississippi, and surely this must mean that Sven is destined for greater works after achieving such a feat?

To this end, my sisters and I believe that Sven deserves the opportunity to learn of the world beyond army life, and the strife that has plagued his tender years. I wonder if you would consider letting Sven come and stay with me for the summer, and I will personally ensure that he learns to read and write, along with receiving the most elementary lessons in math?

Sven might also be interested in learning the piano, and it would please me to have a student so young. Upon occasion, and with much coaxing, our cook can be convinced to entertain my sisters and I with his banjo, and how could ambiance such as this not be beneficial to an ungoverned, youthful mind? I can assure you that Sven would earn his keep as he has done in Corporal Steele's regiment, but he would have the advantage of exposure to females who would treat Sven as if he were their little brother. I offer Corporal Steele as illustration of a man who spent his younger years working in a brothel, and would you not agree that the Corporal is now a fine example of an honourable man, one rich in devotion to his country?

I've enclosed an additional verse for William, and if you would bear with a question, we have recently heard that Colonel Lockman was injured - could this be true? I pray that this letter finds you well and my fervent hope is that you will dine with us soon.

God Bless You.

M.

For William: "The guilty one is not he who commits the sin, but the one who causes the darkness."

[johan_steele]

Mrs. M

I find it amusing that we have managed to miss each other more than once. Mrs. Steele also finds it amusing and I believe she enjoys teasing us about our strange fortune. William is absolutely furious with the Captain as it was his schedule that placed us on pickett the day you visited, he has a gift to present you. A silver cup with the initial "W" engraved upon it. I was some confused to see the letter W instead of the letter M. His reasoning should amuse you. "It is an M when placed on the shelf and a W when used on the table; that way she shall recall who gifted it to her." I have to admit that It is difficult to question his reasoning; though I recall seeing fine silver and even some crystal on the tables. This I think would be intended for your own use when not at a formal supper.

Mrs. Steele made bear sign last eve and we all enjoyed it very much, she said that the nutmeg came from your stores and that we should be certain to thank you. Though, Sven admited it had came from your kitchen I know that he is sometimes a bit light fingered when he thinks it might benefit the company. I hope he was wise enough to ask permission, if not then please inform us and we will see that your kitchen is compensated for any loss. Last week Mrs. Steele made him return a fine silver serving platter he had "borrowed" from a nearby home. I have had a stern talking to him about such things, but he listens only to the Corporal and a couple of our Sergeants. He usually takes orders from Mrs. Steele and the private soldiers as a mere suggestion. Though after Mrs Steele brained him with a rolling pin he has taken her instructions as being a bit more than a suggestion of late.

Mrs. Steele will often withhold a fine fresh sweet bread or other delightful dish if she hears the soldiers using the Lord's name wrongly or otherwise cursing. This has had a most effective result among the unwashed masses of our Company. When the Chaplain scolded one of the local women in such that she cried Mrs Steele demanded that he apologize and threatened to hand him back his laundry tied in knots if he refused. It was an effective threat, perhaps because the Chaplain knew that she would carry it out if provoked.

I must end this note as I am detailed as part of a wood gathering party.

God Bless and Keep You

Seth Barnaby

[dawna]

Dear Mr. Barnaby:

I write this note to you in the early hours of the morning, with little thought of time, or the day ahead. I have tossed and turned this night, while this wretched rain keeps Erik and I from our nightly haunts. We fear that the Tennesse will flood again and leave this town in shambles as it did last spring when the heavens opened up for more than two days. I fear that I will never see you again.

The rain slashes against my window with all the fury of a possessed lover, but I can trace the tiny droplets against my window pane with my fingers and soothe away their madness. They said this war would be over in a month Mr. Barnaby, but the truth is that I fear it will never end, and that this scorched and ravaged earth will never recover from such abuse. Men will go on killing one another, and women's hearts will break for another thousand years. Can you tell me otherwise?

We are certain now that Colonel Lockman has been killed and this house is filled with an unspoken measure of disbelief and sorrow. Colonel Lockman was an honourable man, blessed with great moral courage and we can only imagine the loss this is to your company.

I am curious to know how the men in your regiment are faring with their new chess set, and if you are thwarting all who have had the misfortune to play you? Although I am not a skilled chess player, you will find me an eager and willing student.

I long for conversation outside of M. Josephine's establishment and I am damaged and tormented by the burden of these four walls. If only I could speak with Mrs. Steele again or walk along the river with Erik, my spirits would be lifted for a time.

I wish to know more about your army life and in particular there are several Generals who have captured my interest this past year, and many battles that I only hear about. But my position in this house prevents me from discussing this war with anyone, or the nature of my loyalties. I see no harm in reading personal accounts from soldiers such as yourself, although I know that the Corporal's wife would find this disagreeable.

I will not press you any further regarding your life in Corporal Steeles' regiment, but I pray for your safety and continued good health.

M.

[johan_steele]

Mrs M

It was a pleasure to receive your letter this afternoon, Sven brought it to me without delay as he knows a letter from you will put a smile upon my face. As our camp is placed considerably higher on the ridge than the town we have suffered through a bit of snow and freezing rain mixed with the dreary rain. We dig into the ground several feet, line our hovels with straw and the occasional wood planking, while our own tent still has a canvas roof several tents have acquired planking, thatched and even one well shingled roof. Corporal Steele built a nice wooden shack for Mrs Steele and the boys from the company put a porch on the front and a brush arbor in front of that. Chimneys are made from every substance you could imagine.

Your chess set has been a welcome addition to our camp and I have enjoyed many a game. A young drummer from a neighboring Iowa Regiment is quite good and even gives the Corporal a difficult time of it. We are thinking of holding a tournament among the men of the Brigade. Your chess set has given us a much needed escape from chuck a luck and other games of chance. The men will bet on anything, we had a foot race yesterday and one of our fleet of foot Indians won it quite handily. An Irishman from a nearby battery had been bragging to the point of annoyance so we set out to teach him a lesson. Our Indian and a powder monkey from a Tennessee battery both made the Irishman look the fool. A few of us have taken to calling the him "Fleetfoot" to press his embarassment home.

You asked of some of the Generals we like, I think General Sherman is quite the man, we call him "Uncle Billy." General Logan has the nickname "Blackjack" and is well liked by the men. General McPherson is particularly popular. It is hard for us to like or dilike Generals as we see them only on parade or inspection. We like Generals because they lead from the front, don't shirk danger but most importantly the popular Generals are not dandys or glory seeking fools; in short they don't get too many of us killed doing silly stupid things. We are here to break the rebellion, not to look pretty and make a General famous. The politicians made this mess and it is up to soldiers and citizens like us to put an end to it.

Corporal Steele says this Army is better led, fed, armed and as well served as the one he was with in the Crimea. I think that a noble compliment as he fought in the works before the fortress of Sevestapol.

Mrs. Steele is always knitting socks or a sleeping cap, patching holes in drawers or trousers. She cooks and does the job of a laundress. She is so busy that I sometimes feel guilty playing a game of chess or reading. Corporal Steele still puzzles through his Blackstone trying to learn to read. Both Mrs Steele and myself have tried to help him learn his letters; even young William has tried. It has been said that some people become incapable of learning past a certain time in their life. I wonder if it is true with him? Sven has made far better progress. As long as he continues trying to learn, we will continue to aid him.

Our Bigade has four Colonels, six Lt Colonels, nine Majors and one General. Our own Regiment is on its third Colonel since we mustered into Federal Service. We have the same Captain we left home with, he is not interested in promotion or glory, he listens to his Sergeants and keeps quiet. Most of us think he is a good sort. We left Minnesota with a few over one hundred men and even with the recent addition of some new recruits to the Company sickness and the infernal Rebel have reduced us to just forty two men. Our only officer is the Captain. One joined a Colored Regiment so he could be promoted to a Captain and the other managed to put himself in front of a rebel bullet. Kevin has seen seven real battles and a dozen smaller scraps coming through it all with nothing more than a bit of tree in his leg, he will re-enlist with most of us and he is still too young to shave.

I will give this letter to Sven to hand to you. He carries three bits of Mrs Steeles money to get some yarn. We thought you might know where to buy some if it is still to be had.

God Bless You

Your Most Obedient Servent

Seth Barnaby

[dawna]

Dear Mr. Barnaby:

I take pen to hand this morning as Erik prepares to deliver a package to your Company, along with the return of Sven who we found once again lurking in the streets. This time your ungoverned little soldier was fiercely guarding a mysterious package and I need not tell you that I am suspicious of it's contents. But we have yet to find items missing from our employer's establishment so we are grateful that Sven's conscience spares us from his youthful desire to illuminate Corporal Steele's camp.

I can't think that M. Josephine's house will survive this day as it groans beneath any degree of moderate polish and forms anew it's very foundation. Madame received word this morning that the Corporal and his wife will dine with us tomorrow evening and this news travelled throughout our household with the same speed and reverence of a long awaited epiphany.

My sisters have abandoned their daily routines in pursuit of the more noble art of coiffing extraordinaire and I am amused by their endless child-like chatter, and by the transformation of seasoned creature of the evening to that of school girl folly. It is curious to me that these damaged women who I have grown so fond of are this day mere caricatures of their night time profession. I gently chide them for their foolish indulgence but question my own hyprocricy at the same time. I can feel the ice that I have packed around my heart for so long slowly release it's deathly grip at the prospect of spending an evening in your company.

Erik is out of sorts and I fear that I am partly to blame for our cook's change in temperament. I am unable to accompany Erik today as I am left to help M. Josephine prepare for our guests tomorrow evening, and I have no wish to arouse Madame's suspicions or her wrath. I'm inclined to believe that Erik also worries that his cooking might not find favour with the Corporal's wife, but I have tried to reassure Erik that Mrs. Steele will be only too pleased to have someone else cook for her, and to at last meet the infamous Madame Josephine!

Erik has become my dearest confidante and the rain of late has kept us from our nightly strolls. I sometimes laugh at Erik's broken English and at some of his more Philistinian musings, but he knows my teasings are of a sisterly nature and no harm is intended. I suspect there may be a dubious past in Erik's native country but still I care not for the history of one's soul. I would trust Eric with my life and of even more importance to me is Erik's belief in my dreams.

I have given Sven the small amount of yarn that we have left in our house since we have little use for it. Madame's benefector supplies our stockings and these we have in abundance as you might imagine. Please tell William that I have written out Sonnet 29 as he requested and shall personally deliver it to him when he visits with the Corporal's party.

God Bless You.

M.

[johan_steele]

Mrs M.

I am beginning to dislike our Captain, it would seem every time that I might have an opportunity to meet you face to face he conspires to deny me that pleasure. Less than an hour before the Corporal and his wife left to dine with you I was ordered to escort a message to the Generals headquarters. The sergeant detailed myself, William, Kevin with the Second Sergeant to escort an officer who crossed to our lines. He was of the sort that I think you might have liked. A real fancy gent, a Major of the infantry who had decided that our lines might be a touch safer than his own. After talking with two enlisted men who accompanied him it was discovered he was a true dandy and not even an American. This officer was an Englishman of some money... or had been prior to the war. Kevin and I were rather hoping he would run for it so that we might shoot him. He put on so many airs you might think he thought he was one of our officer. We were glad to hand him over to the Generals escort.

Twice this cad demanded that we allow him to visit a "house of entertainment with a pleasant parlor." We laughed at him and let him know what we thought of his request.

It is hoped that you enjoyed your eve with the Corporal and Mrs Steele. They have spoke highly of the meal served them and the company and conversation provided them. Mrs Steele says that the corporal was as uncouth as always. His manners were learned in a barracks. We do not doubt that, though he spoke highly of a game of chess with a young lady there. Might that have been you?

Sven came into camp yesterday with a bolt of silk in a color of red so dark as to be almost the color of blood. Mrs Steele demanded to know where he had gotten it and as always he just smiled. I thought Mrs Steele was going to brain him good but she relented and has told him she must present it to your house as it will be put to good use there.

William is eager to know what you thought of his silver cup; the Corporal said that it was up to you to tell him. William has been quoting the great Bards sonnets almost to the point of irritation. Many in the camp enjoy it though, I might as well if I did not have to deal with his quoting them while I often try to sleep.

The yarn you provided has been greatly appreciated, it was put to imediete use repairhing a pair of my socks. while the colors do not match; my feet are color blind.

There is much debate and discussion within our company as to who shll enlist again. Almost all have decided to do so, those few who have not have families that they miss terribly. Some feel that they have already sacrificed enough and should be called upon to give no more. I think more than three quarters of opur Regiment shall reenlist; this means we shall keep together and not be sent ot other regiments. It also means that we shall be provided a furlough of thirty days. All of us have been promised a bonus and forty acres of land in the western part of the state. I shall use mine I think to raise horses and perhaps try my hand as a school teacher. I would like to attend university, but I think I dare not. I am not a rich man and do not think my family could bear my absence for the time it would take me to finish such a dream.

Until the time we shall actually meet eye to eye I bid you have pleasant day and may God Bless You.

He who increases knowledge increases sorrow. Even the great bard had his superiors.

Your Most Obedient Servent

Seth Barnaby

[dawna]

Dear Mr. Barnaby:

Once again fate has conspired against our meeting and I wonder now if it is meant to be? Surely I have not fallen so far from grace that a vengeful God would deny me the opportunity to have one true friendship?

In spite of your absence, we passed a pleasant evening with the Corporal and Mrs. Steele, but my sisters and I were wrought with bitter disappointment. M. Josephine told us this morning that she has grown weary of "entertaining Grant's army" and I marvel at my employer's hypocricy, knowing only too well that it is the army who has kept her in perfume and silk.

Erik prepared a fine meal and I later heard the Corporal's wife inquiring as to what seasonings had been used to prepare the meat. I assured Eric that this was the highest compliment that Mrs. Steele could have paid him - Erik seemed well pleased.

Mrs. Steele relaxed as the night progressed but I sensed her discomfort (and distrust) for most of the evening. The Corporal and M. Josephine did not help matters as they both have a fondness for whiskey, French in Drunkenese, and the most shocking stories from the Corporal's years on the docks. We were fortuned with yet another version of how the Corporal acquired his wife's beautiful new dress and with a roomful of captive, attentive young ladies, I am quite certain that the Corporal planned it as such!

It was not I who played chess with the Corporal. That pleasure I am waiting to learn from you.

I've had the misfortune of meeting Major Colburne on more than one occasion and I can assure you that the Major could find his way to M. Josepine's whilst blindfolded, hobbled, and half way to Glory. But I ask you Mr. Barnaby, in what manner have I expressed myself that would have you believe that my head could be turned by a man as cowardly and despicable as Major Colburne? If you have saved my letters, then I implore you to show me what words, what line, what phrase in particular has revealed this shallow and vulgar nature to you? For a boy who barely remembers our first meeting, it is distressing to learn from you what my "likes" are, when you know the least about me.

Your dreams are noble and worth pursuing but unattainable if you are shot through with lead or scattered across the enemy's battlefield. How many soldiers will be alive long enough to collect on the government's promise of land and money? Can it be true that you still believe in the lies that started this war?

I pray that your family is well and that you have had recent news from Carlie. If you would like to take a walk with Erik and I next evening, please send a note with Sven. I would like to hear more of your General Sherman and I have much to tell you regarding my three month journey from Danville.

May God keep you safe.

We are full of weakness and errors; let us mutually pardon each other our follies.

M.