December 3, 1864
Title
December 3, 1864
Subject
From George Murray to his parents, dated 03DEC1864. Some skirmishing and rebels captured, including many contraband slaves. Tells them not to contribute to any commissions as they are not worth it; if they want to help a soldier they should do it directly. Describes an average week-guard duty, press parades, and inspections. In ink on lined folder stationary, ""Paris"" mark at top. Faded slightly especially at folds.
UNIT ASSOCIATION: 114th PA Infantry
-Information provided by the courtesy of the National Park Service
UNIT ASSOCIATION: 114th PA Infantry
-Information provided by the courtesy of the National Park Service
Description
Headquarters Army of Potomac Dec 3rd /64
Dear Father & Mother
I received your kind and welcome letter of the 28th inst last evening and as I have a little spare time this evening I will improve it by writing you a few lines. I am in good health and have got a large appetite. I eat my tentmates out of house that is I eat almost all of the rations. The army has been changing positions the Second Corps has gone to the left and the Ninth Corps has taken the Second's place. There is not so much picket firing in front of us as there used to be because we laid behind the Second Corps and the rebs do not like that Corps because our old division is in it and they gobbled up their pickets and captured two lines of breastworks from them and ever since the pickets vent their spite by firing on each other the rebs called it a nasty mean Yankee trick and ever since they have been trying to play the same trick but Kearney's old boys are not to be caught napping. The 205, 206, 207, 208, 209 Pennsylvania regiments passed our camp the other day they looked to be as large as our old brigade. The Cavalry made a raid on Stony Creek and captured over a hundred rebs and (and) a lot of contrabands they came into Patricks this morning among the rebs captured was a major and several other field officers. You ought to see the contrabands when they come in the fanciest bonnets and Jockey hats trimmed off to kill the worst of it is that there is so many women and small children come in and the most of them old and crippled so that they are not worth much to either party. I hope the people of the North will not dirty themselves by sending another dinner down here as that thanksgiving dinner was a disgrace and a humbug the people of the North had better save their money and stuff and give it the (the) orphans and widows of the soldiers. The thanksgiving dinner averaged in our regiment two turkies a pie and a half for twenty six men and half of an apple for each man if the people only know what fun the soldiers made over their dinner they would not send any more, one fellow said he was going to put his piece of turkey in a letter and send it home another fellow said that he had a hollow tooth and he put his piece of pie into his mouth expecting to have a feast but he lost in the hollow of his tooth. I want you hereafter not to give anything towards these humbugs neither to the Sanitary Commission or any other kind of Commission as they are humbug if any of our regiment goes to them and asks them for anything we cannot have it for we want it for others who are more exposed as if we had not earnt it and we were not worthy of it, if you have anything to give to the soldiers give it to them yourself. The weather has been splendid for the last three or four days. All of the Bustleton boys are well. I received the May number of Authurs. But I have told you all of the news. Give my respects to all enquiring friends. Write soon. Give Chappy a kiss for me. I have got good warm dry and comfortable quarters. But we have soon much to do that we do not have much time to ourselves say we was on guard Monday come off Tuesday morning dress parade at night go on guard again Wednesday come off Thursday dress parade again fatigue duty Friday and dress parade guard Saturday again and off Sunday morning and so on week in week out. We have no drills as we have no time for it inspection monthly besides what we get on guard mount and Dress parade they are trying to get up Sunday morning inspection it takes very nearly all of our time to clean up as they are very particular, the regiment looks the better for it. I never saw it look so well every one takes pride in themselves and try and keep clean. Genl. Meade calls it his regiment.
(Where is Robbins Mill Your Son Beach Lt and what I have forgot) George Murray
-Transcript provided by the courtesy of the National Park Service
Dear Father & Mother
I received your kind and welcome letter of the 28th inst last evening and as I have a little spare time this evening I will improve it by writing you a few lines. I am in good health and have got a large appetite. I eat my tentmates out of house that is I eat almost all of the rations. The army has been changing positions the Second Corps has gone to the left and the Ninth Corps has taken the Second's place. There is not so much picket firing in front of us as there used to be because we laid behind the Second Corps and the rebs do not like that Corps because our old division is in it and they gobbled up their pickets and captured two lines of breastworks from them and ever since the pickets vent their spite by firing on each other the rebs called it a nasty mean Yankee trick and ever since they have been trying to play the same trick but Kearney's old boys are not to be caught napping. The 205, 206, 207, 208, 209 Pennsylvania regiments passed our camp the other day they looked to be as large as our old brigade. The Cavalry made a raid on Stony Creek and captured over a hundred rebs and (and) a lot of contrabands they came into Patricks this morning among the rebs captured was a major and several other field officers. You ought to see the contrabands when they come in the fanciest bonnets and Jockey hats trimmed off to kill the worst of it is that there is so many women and small children come in and the most of them old and crippled so that they are not worth much to either party. I hope the people of the North will not dirty themselves by sending another dinner down here as that thanksgiving dinner was a disgrace and a humbug the people of the North had better save their money and stuff and give it the (the) orphans and widows of the soldiers. The thanksgiving dinner averaged in our regiment two turkies a pie and a half for twenty six men and half of an apple for each man if the people only know what fun the soldiers made over their dinner they would not send any more, one fellow said he was going to put his piece of turkey in a letter and send it home another fellow said that he had a hollow tooth and he put his piece of pie into his mouth expecting to have a feast but he lost in the hollow of his tooth. I want you hereafter not to give anything towards these humbugs neither to the Sanitary Commission or any other kind of Commission as they are humbug if any of our regiment goes to them and asks them for anything we cannot have it for we want it for others who are more exposed as if we had not earnt it and we were not worthy of it, if you have anything to give to the soldiers give it to them yourself. The weather has been splendid for the last three or four days. All of the Bustleton boys are well. I received the May number of Authurs. But I have told you all of the news. Give my respects to all enquiring friends. Write soon. Give Chappy a kiss for me. I have got good warm dry and comfortable quarters. But we have soon much to do that we do not have much time to ourselves say we was on guard Monday come off Tuesday morning dress parade at night go on guard again Wednesday come off Thursday dress parade again fatigue duty Friday and dress parade guard Saturday again and off Sunday morning and so on week in week out. We have no drills as we have no time for it inspection monthly besides what we get on guard mount and Dress parade they are trying to get up Sunday morning inspection it takes very nearly all of our time to clean up as they are very particular, the regiment looks the better for it. I never saw it look so well every one takes pride in themselves and try and keep clean. Genl. Meade calls it his regiment.
(Where is Robbins Mill Your Son Beach Lt and what I have forgot) George Murray
-Transcript provided by the courtesy of the National Park Service
Creator
George Murray
Date
December 3, 1864
Files
Collection
Citation
George Murray, “December 3, 1864,” Slaughter-Murray Papers, accessed September 20, 2024, http://slaughtermurray.umwhistory.org/items/show/30.