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THE CIVIL WAR LETTERS 



I. 



St. Louis Arsenal 

 Aug. 4th 1861 

 Dear Brother and Family 



T am now soldering or acting soldier. I came in the ar- 

 senal on last Friday I was never in any kind business I 

 liked so much as T like this. . but perhaps I may not like 

 it so well after while but I think I had my mind fully made 

 up before T undertook the soldier to like it all hazzards. 

 T have not quite a full company yet but I think we will 

 have it full within a week if you think we can get any up 

 in your City T vnW give my orderly the privelige of come- 

 ing up and Recruiting in your City my orderly is Jo Ben- 

 son Goodner I suppose you are Slightly acquainted with 

 him he is out at Belleville but is to come back this eve. I 

 believe today is the Sabbath but you would not know it 

 if you was here. I have just come from dinner perhaps you 

 think there is danger of us starving if you think so I will 

 just give you a bill of fare of our dinner which was bacon 

 cabbage potatoes bread and coffee good enough for a queen, 

 the boys make such a noise up here I can hardly tell what 

 I am writing. I will have extra quarter after I get rightly 

 fixed up Our quarters are up in the upstairs of a two 

 story brick it is about 150 by 50 it is very cool and nice 

 we have bunks like on a steamboat but nothing but the 

 boards to sleep on for we have not drawed our blankets 

 yet but 1 think we will draw them this week any t 



T must bring this letter to a close as it is time to go on 

 drill Capt J M Stookey Com E 



Direct vour letters to St Louis Arsenal 

 Col C H Frederic 

 9th Eeg W.Z. Mo. Vol. 

 Explanations W Z stands for Wasliington Zouaves 



