Raccoon

[Peace Society]

3 MN

Murfreesboro, Tenn., Thursday, June 5, 1862.​

…You must allow me to change the subject a little, "A dog that isn't a dog," a great favorite of Co. F with whom she has been for the last two months, is playing under the table with her five little mischievous additions, while Capt. Preston's little coon with his feet and nose daubed with milk and dirt, has climbed all the way up to my shoulder where he sits rooting down the back of my neck. Sergt. Otto Dreher sits at the same table, writing a Dutch letter and laughing at my situation. Isn't this enough to bother one trying to write?--
… (O dear! That plague of a coon, assisted by Eugene, is at me again.)… He has upset the ink and is making tracks all over the table. I will send you one. [a track print, which he did, and she received]

After dinner, Coon asleep on Capt's bed, 1862
…[he continues his letter, without interference]​

James Madison Bowler
Go If You Think It Your Duty: A Minnesota Couple's Civil War Letters by Andrea R. Foroughi
Minnesota Historical Society Press, St. Paul, 2008, p. 100

 

[DorwinBlack]

The thing I love about soldiers' letters is they give you a real window into these humorous moments in their experience, as well as how they occupied themselves during the "months of boredom" that occurred between the "moments of extreme terror" that get all the ink in the war histories. A few examples from my ancestor's letters:

Playing Cards -- Camp near Murfreesboro TN, 30 Jan 1863:
"At this late hour of night, it is now just eleven o'clock at night. I have returned to my quarters from a social game of euchre. Myself and Major Yeoman has been learning Colonel Rippey and our regimental doctor how to play euchre, and as I have returned, I thought of you as usual for I never lay down at night without thinking of you and Kate and Marge and the children." A.W. Black to wife

Nature Watching -- Camp on Cripple Creek, 16 April 1863
"I have just come in my tent. I have been setting out some cedar trees in front of my tent, and besides I have made a martin box and put it on a pole so as I can set in my door and look at the birds of Tennessee flying around my canvas house." A.W. Black to wife

Picket Duty -- Camp on Cripple Creek, 5 May 1863
"Well Liney, I am on picket today. The boys are all well, and some of them are pitching horseshoes, others playing cards, some standing around looking for a cow to milk, and one up in the large oak standing sentinel . " A.W. Black to wife

Writing letters -- Camp on Cripple Creek 12 May 1863
"I have just come off from picket. It is very warm down here. I have got my boots off, my pants rolled up and unbuttoned, and my shirt tails out. I am just laying back writing to you." A.W. Black to wife

 

[donna]

Great letters. An insight in life of soldiers.

 

[lupaglupa]

The thing I love about soldiers' letters is they give you a real window into these humorous moments in their experience, as well as how they occupied themselves during the "months of boredom" that occurred between the "moments of extreme terror" that get all the ink in the war histories. A few examples from my ancestor's letters:

Playing Cards -- Camp near Murfreesboro TN, 30 Jan 1863:
"At this late hour of night, it is now just eleven o'clock at night. I have returned to my quarters from a social game of euchre. Myself and Major Yeoman has been learning Colonel Rippey and our regimental doctor how to play euchre, and as I have returned, I thought of you as usual for I never lay down at night without thinking of you and Kate and Marge and the children." A.W. Black to wife

Nature Watching -- Camp on Cripple Creek, 16 April 1863
"I have just come in my tent. I have been setting out some cedar trees in front of my tent, and besides I have made a martin box and put it on a pole so as I can set in my door and look at the birds of Tennessee flying around my canvas house." A.W. Black to wife

Picket Duty -- Camp on Cripple Creek, 5 May 1863
"Well Liney, I am on picket today. The boys are all well, and some of them are pitching horseshoes, others playing cards, some standing around looking for a cow to milk, and one up in the large oak standing sentinel . " A.W. Black to wife

Writing letters -- Camp on Cripple Creek 12 May 1863
"I have just come off from picket. It is very warm down here. I have got my boots off, my pants rolled up and unbuttoned, and my shirt tails out. I am just laying back writing to you." A.W. Black to wife

How wonderful that you have these!