Stoneman Station, Va.,
March 16, 1863.
Dear Cousin L.:—
I received a letter from O. M. last week. He appeared to be enjoying himself well. The weather was June-like, and the boys went round in their shirt sleeves when off duty.
He says there is a nigger regiment near him with black commissioned officers. What do you think of that idea? Contact with the contraband has so modified his ideas already that he don’t like to see them in the same uniform he wears, and woolly headed captains are a step in advance of his ideas. Ain’t you glad you wasn’t born in the South where such ideas originate?
Just as you say, there is nothing to write about the war. “Pugnacious Joseph” still maintains a state of masterly inactivity.
We had a thunderstorm last night, but the storm was snow. Robins were singing in the morning. That was spring-like, but this morning is winter again.
Of course I cannot move till we get the command, so I am waiting the progress of events. A constant indulgence of my Kendallistic propensities enables me to keep a stiff upper lip.
From home I hear that father expects to move to Michigan in April. I shall have no home to go to now, will I? L. is gone and it never did seem like home when she wasn’t there. I shall have to look out for myself if I ever do get through the war.
E. writes me that he don’t want to go west, but if I will only say the word he will be down here in the Eighty-third as soon as steam can carry him. He is not eighteen yet, but will be to-morrow, and I think he better wait, don’t you? I have had all I could do to keep him at home. He promised me once that he would not enlist without my consent, and the next letter I received from him he was in a company in Harrisburg. He excused himself on the plea of extraordinary circumstances (Stuart’s raid into Pennsylvania), and I couldn’t blame him much, as he went home again soon. Perhaps you will think I do wrong to discourage him, but I cannot bear the thought of his coming. It seems to me one in our family is enough, but I am afraid that, just so sure as there is another excitement, he will come. He will never go home if he does, at least so it seems.
