Part 9 of 25 in Civil War Letters of Algernon H. Scribner. The date below is the letter’s historical date; the article retains the collection’s publication date.
Letter transcription
Arlington Heights Va 26th Feb. 1863 Father,
I thought i would write you a few lines to let you know that i am well. Got your letter to night and was glad to hear from you there is not much going on here every thing is quiet. we had a gay old time through the Snow Storm. I do not know if you had anny in Maine but it was very tough here. you asked for me to write what the reasons was that I did not get the Chief M. birth. I would have had it so the Col. said but i could not get anny more pay there was a bill passed not to recieve anny C. Musicians anny way and i thought that I would not go anny further. the pay is the same either way our Drum Major only gets the same as a private. they like Whit F. tip top only he is mighty crabid some times the second Lieut there is no more Millitary in him than in a pig the most awkward in the line of Officers. I am getting pretty damd lazy i guess that i shant be good for anny thing when i get home but no matter if i get home all right it begins to rain and our Barracks begin to leek bad[.] John Chute was here the week but he has gone down Front down to the 17th he has got Curtis discharged and he feels pretty tickled. Samuel Wardwell is here to night just com from the 17th he has got a Subject for the grave yard his name os Cyrus Bonney his wifes Brother. the boys of the 19th are pretty much discouraged and so is the whole Army i guess or those are round here. The Queen of the West was captured day before yesterday by the Rebbs to days paper say that Fance has given the north and south 8 days to settle up this war in and if they dont do it in that time they shall step in on the Souths side. you may believe as much of it as you are a mind to. It is getting late and i must dry up so good one write soon
From your Fifer A.H. Scribner Camp C, 25th Maine Vols. Arlington H Virginia I left my Government fife with Bill Shaw
Source
Transcribed by Jean F. Hankins in 2011 for the Otisfield Historical Society, with permission of owner Hal Ferguson of Otisfield. Original spelling, uncertain readings, and editorial notes are retained.
Read the original transcription (PDF, starting on page 9).