Help needed with Civil War letter

[Sscul2]

All,
I have some civil war letters from my husband's great-great grandfather, Daniel M. Stearns who fought with the 8th Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps and the 104th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. I am trying to understand the meaning of a couple of things he mentions in his letters to his mother dated September 18, 1861 from the Falls of the Potomac and the 2nd one dated October 3, 1861.

1. He writes "Mother, you must not believe any of the newspaper reports about the suffering of the soldiers for it is as false as sin and is put on by the enemies of our common cause and they should be treated as traitors of the Blackies Dye.

• What is the meaning of Blacks Dye?

2. He writes "Mother, you speak of the Fast Day at home. I will state here that it was observed in the army. We had divine service 3 times and drills and work was stopped and we had a day of rest."

• What is Fast Day?

Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!

 

[JOHN42768]

Guessing; Printing ink for the "dye" and Religious meatless day ,such as Fridays in Lent for "Fast Day"

 

[19thGeorgia]

"Blackies" might be a misspelling of blackest.

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/of+the+blackest+dye

 

[DaveBrt]

All,
I have some civil war letters from my husband's great-great grandfather, Daniel M. Stearns who fought with the 8th Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps and the 104th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. I am trying to understand the meaning of a couple of things he mentions in his letters to his mother dated September 18, 1861 from the Falls of the Potomac and the 2nd one dated October 3, 1861.

1. He writes "Mother, you must not believe any of the newspaper reports about the suffering of the soldiers for it is as false as sin and is put on by the enemies of our common cause and they should be treated as traitors of the Blackies Dye.

• What is the meaning of Blacks Dye?

2. He writes "Mother, you speak of the Fast Day at home. I will state here that it was observed in the army. We had divine service 3 times and drills and work was stopped and we had a day of rest."

• What is Fast Day?

Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!

Fast Days were days of religious devotion. Some specified no meat to be eaten, but usually they required no eating at all (at least during daylight). Church services and prayer were to be the focus of the day.

 

[AndyHall]

"Of the blackest dye" is a euphemism for being irreparably evil.

 

[Sscul2]

"Blackies" might be a misspelling of blackest.

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/of+the+blackest+dye

I think you are absolutely right on the misspelling...now makes perfect sense! Thank you!

 

[Sscul2]

"Of the blackest dye" is a euphemism for being irreparably evil.

Thanks! You are always a big help!

 

[Sscul2]

Fast Days were days of religious devotion. Some specified no meat to be eaten, but usually they required no eating at all (at least during daylight). Church services and prayer were to be the focus of the day.

Wow...that had to be tough to adhere to under the circumstances of war. Thanks so much for your post!

 

[AndyHall]

Based on the dates, the "Fast Day" in Stearns' latter may refer to this observation:

Proclamation Appointing a National Fast Day
Washington, D.C. - August 12, 1861

By the President of the United States of America.
A Proclamation.
Whereas a joint Committee of both Houses of Congress has waited on the President of the United States, and requested him to "recommend a day of public humiliation, prayer and fasting, to be observed by the people of the United States with religious solemnities, and the offering of fervent supplications to Almighty God for the safety and welfare of these States, His blessings on their arms, and a speedy restoration of peace:"
And whereas it is fit and becoming in all people, at all times, to acknowledge and revere the Supreme Government of God; to bow in humble submission to his chastisements; to confess and deplore their sins and transgressions in the full conviction that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and to pray, with all fervency and contrition, for the pardon of their past offences, and for a blessing upon their present and prospective action:
And whereas, when our own beloved Country, once, by the blessing of God, united, prosperous and happy, is now afflicted with faction and civil war, it is peculiarly fit for us to recognize the hand of God in this terrible visitation, and in sorrowful remembrance of our own faults and crimes as a nation and as individuals, to humble ourselves before Him, and to pray for His mercy, -- to pray that we may be spared further punishment, though most justly deserved; that our arms may be blessed and made effectual for the re-establishment of law, order and peace, throughout the wide extent of our country; and that the inestimable boon of civil and religious liberty, earned under His guidance and blessing, by the labors and sufferings of our fathers, may be restored in all its original excellence: --
Therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, do appoint the last Thursday in September next [September 26, 1861], as a day of humiliation, prayer and fasting for all the people of the nation. And I do earnestly recommend to all the People, and especially to all ministers and teachers of religion of all denominations, and to all heads of families, to observe and keep that day according to their several creeds and modes of worship, in all humility and with all religious solemnity, to the end that the united prayer of the nation may ascend to the Throne of Grace and bring down plentiful blessings upon our Country.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed, this 12th, day of August A.D. 1861, and of the Independence of the United States of America the 86th.
By the President: Abraham Lincoln
William H. Seward, Secretary of State.​

 

[Cavalry Charger]

I had no awareness of this Proclamation. Thanks for sharing @AndyHall .

 

[AndyHall]

I didn't know about it, either, but both Lincoln and Davis made proclamations along those lines, so it seemed like something to look for.

 

[JOHN42768]

That was a real enduring gesture. I'm guessing there were a lot of meatless or days without food and not by plan or on purpose for many troops on both sides.

 

[Sscul2]

Wow! Thank you very much for finding this documentation!! It just amazes me how much I am still learning about DM Stearns and how just a mention of something in his letter could lead to a proclamation by Abraham Lincoln. I had more idea.