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FROM THE 7th REGIMENT
Saturday, 17 December 2011 17:20 | Written by Compiled and Edited by Jeremy Johnson
CAMP ARLINGTON, 7th W. V. Dec 26, 1861
DEAR PATRIOT:- But a short time has elapsed since last I wrote you but as we have had such good times, I thought I would write again I will here insert a few lines which in my last I neglected. It concerns the peddler arrangement. from the reading in my last one would quite naturally suppose that only our regiment was engaged in the muss, but of those most active the greatest majority was from to their regiments. Our regiment bears the name of being the least meddlesome and most peaceful regiment that ever stood pitched on the ground we occupied when on picket duty. I was told this by a man living near there. The 7th is peaceable regiment and the boys take pride in knowing they bear that reputation.
Now for the "good times" I spoke of. We were awakened in the morning (25th) as usual by the beating of the reveille at 6:30. Then breakfast was ready eat all we wanted as mater of course. Next came guard mounting this through we laid in for the good things that is my tent mates and I. Such as oysters crackers, apples, corn meals, &c., made some "dodgers," these the boys pronounced tip top but I could not answer for that in as much as my palate never inclined in that direction, but suppose they tasted good to their sore lips.-
The dinner passed off well and was a near relative to our Thanksgiving dinner. some of the companies had oysters for dinner some took their oysters about 5 o'clock P.M.-and some companies had none at all , at all, companies A., B, F and K were among those that furnished the oysters for the whole company. company A took theirs for dinner, the others I believe partook of their oysters towards evening.-
Company E's supper was got up on about the best scale of any that I see. A long table was erected in the middle of the street intended to accommodate the entire company. When all was ready the company was formed in at head of the street double file, and then marched up to and around the table much after the fashion of Old Camp Randall. the meal was discussed and three hearty cheers was given for the Captain three more for the cooks for cooking them so nicely. the Captain appears to be one of the kind who likes to see those around enjoying themselves he not only furnished the oysters and crackers but a goodly amount of butter and a barrel of good apples we had no dress parade and in fact no duty was imposed on us except what was absolutely necessary. the Colonel gave passed freely not to Washington but to Alexandria, and a great many obtained passes but I preferred to say at home. from the time the oysters was devoured till the tattoo all was quite. After tattoo, as the Major requested the Drum Major to take the drum choir over to the Quarter master's tent we all went were drawn up in front and gave him such a "serenading" as he never had before played two or three tunes and as there was no treat offered and no one shown themselves some one proposed to go over to the 2d, which we did a large crown following us, serenaded the colonel, but as there was such a large crowd and terrible noisy besides, the Major did not wait for the colonel to make his appearance but returned to camp. Well after a while the 2d brass band came over, of course they could make better musings than the drum choir could but they (the brass band) showed no better intention than the martial band did but they got treated to the lemonade. Guess they won't make a cats paw of the old drum Major again.
The brass band after playing a few tunes and getting a few treats went over at the 6th where they called out the Colonel who spoke a few words after which the band came back played before our colonel's tent or at least some of the officers near him and finally topped it with a serenade for captain colic and another treat.
While the band was over to the 6th another stirring scene was being enacted at the guard between the regiments. The officer that passed the band through had the countersign and authority to pass only the band and of course all those that had followed them were of a necessity obliged to stop. The next thing then was three groans for the 6th which was executed in good style as many of the boys have colds, this had been kept up for some time when all at once and of a sudden the whole crowd was surrounded by a company of the 6th with guns, bayonets fixed, and charged bayonets on our boys. It so happened that one of the officers that was on guard duty was in the crowd he ordered the 6th to open ranks and let his boys out, which they did somewhat crestfallen. Some little more parleying and our boys fell back as far as our tents, when another three groans was given in honor of the 6th, all passing off quite agreeable to both parties.- There will be between regiments coming from the same State more or less competition and rivalry. There is little of this however exiting between the 7th and 2d, the two are quite friendly but both are down on the 6th.
I said that nothing occurred from oysters till tattoo, but just at that time my memory failed me, something was going on all the time, one of the Hospital tents is vacant it has a good floor the officers collected all the ladies they could from the three regiments and had a genuine dance.
DEAR PATRIOT:- But a short time has elapsed since last I wrote you but as we have had such good times, I thought I would write again I will here insert a few lines which in my last I neglected. It concerns the peddler arrangement. from the reading in my last one would quite naturally suppose that only our regiment was engaged in the muss, but of those most active the greatest majority was from to their regiments. Our regiment bears the name of being the least meddlesome and most peaceful regiment that ever stood pitched on the ground we occupied when on picket duty. I was told this by a man living near there. The 7th is peaceable regiment and the boys take pride in knowing they bear that reputation.
Now for the "good times" I spoke of. We were awakened in the morning (25th) as usual by the beating of the reveille at 6:30. Then breakfast was ready eat all we wanted as mater of course. Next came guard mounting this through we laid in for the good things that is my tent mates and I. Such as oysters crackers, apples, corn meals, &c., made some "dodgers," these the boys pronounced tip top but I could not answer for that in as much as my palate never inclined in that direction, but suppose they tasted good to their sore lips.-
The dinner passed off well and was a near relative to our Thanksgiving dinner. some of the companies had oysters for dinner some took their oysters about 5 o'clock P.M.-and some companies had none at all , at all, companies A., B, F and K were among those that furnished the oysters for the whole company. company A took theirs for dinner, the others I believe partook of their oysters towards evening.-
Company E's supper was got up on about the best scale of any that I see. A long table was erected in the middle of the street intended to accommodate the entire company. When all was ready the company was formed in at head of the street double file, and then marched up to and around the table much after the fashion of Old Camp Randall. the meal was discussed and three hearty cheers was given for the Captain three more for the cooks for cooking them so nicely. the Captain appears to be one of the kind who likes to see those around enjoying themselves he not only furnished the oysters and crackers but a goodly amount of butter and a barrel of good apples we had no dress parade and in fact no duty was imposed on us except what was absolutely necessary. the Colonel gave passed freely not to Washington but to Alexandria, and a great many obtained passes but I preferred to say at home. from the time the oysters was devoured till the tattoo all was quite. After tattoo, as the Major requested the Drum Major to take the drum choir over to the Quarter master's tent we all went were drawn up in front and gave him such a "serenading" as he never had before played two or three tunes and as there was no treat offered and no one shown themselves some one proposed to go over to the 2d, which we did a large crown following us, serenaded the colonel, but as there was such a large crowd and terrible noisy besides, the Major did not wait for the colonel to make his appearance but returned to camp. Well after a while the 2d brass band came over, of course they could make better musings than the drum choir could but they (the brass band) showed no better intention than the martial band did but they got treated to the lemonade. Guess they won't make a cats paw of the old drum Major again.
The brass band after playing a few tunes and getting a few treats went over at the 6th where they called out the Colonel who spoke a few words after which the band came back played before our colonel's tent or at least some of the officers near him and finally topped it with a serenade for captain colic and another treat.
While the band was over to the 6th another stirring scene was being enacted at the guard between the regiments. The officer that passed the band through had the countersign and authority to pass only the band and of course all those that had followed them were of a necessity obliged to stop. The next thing then was three groans for the 6th which was executed in good style as many of the boys have colds, this had been kept up for some time when all at once and of a sudden the whole crowd was surrounded by a company of the 6th with guns, bayonets fixed, and charged bayonets on our boys. It so happened that one of the officers that was on guard duty was in the crowd he ordered the 6th to open ranks and let his boys out, which they did somewhat crestfallen. Some little more parleying and our boys fell back as far as our tents, when another three groans was given in honor of the 6th, all passing off quite agreeable to both parties.- There will be between regiments coming from the same State more or less competition and rivalry. There is little of this however exiting between the 7th and 2d, the two are quite friendly but both are down on the 6th.
I said that nothing occurred from oysters till tattoo, but just at that time my memory failed me, something was going on all the time, one of the Hospital tents is vacant it has a good floor the officers collected all the ladies they could from the three regiments and had a genuine dance.
The boys got together in company F and had a dance on the ground in the street almost if not every company in the regiment was represented at this grand ball, it was genuine all but the ladies, but by turning the brim of the cap bock makes a man a lady or at least represent ladies now aint't that a queer way?
Oh! we have heaps of fun, I cannot describe as I would like all the little details of our enjoyment here and of which our friend are so anxious to hear my descriptive powers are not over large but I try to think of everything and describe it, but there is so may in the tent talking laughing cracking jokes, &c., That it is almost impossible to think of anything.
The weather has been very fine this month except two days, the fore part of this week. wind blew up a storm from the east but the wind shifted to westward and the rain was changed to snow, snowed for a little while Wisconsin fashion, melting as fast as it fell, it is pleasant again. Christmas was the pleasantest Christmas that I ever enjoyed, no snow, warm and pleasant and not a cloud to dim the brightness of the God of day.
The weather has been very fine this month except two days, the fore part of this week. wind blew up a storm from the east but the wind shifted to westward and the rain was changed to snow, snowed for a little while Wisconsin fashion, melting as fast as it fell, it is pleasant again. Christmas was the pleasantest Christmas that I ever enjoyed, no snow, warm and pleasant and not a cloud to dim the brightness of the God of day.
Yours' till New Year,
Badger
