April 5, 1862
Dear Father:
To-day a mail arrived and in it were quite a large number of letters for me, ten I believe. I was right glad to receive them of course.
I am afraid that when I wrote home before, I made too much of a hero of myself for all the letters received speak of my wonderful coolness, and some censure me for rashness. In regard to courage, I displayed no more that thousands of other men that day, nor do I think that any soldier should be particularly proud of that, as it is expected of him from the very fact of his being a soldier.
You ask what were my duties as Signal Officer that day, and what if the General had wished to send a message. In the first place, the smoke of battle is so thick that no message can be sent, and in the second, the General was mounted and I on foot so that it was impossible for me to keep near him. So I had the choice of either to remain behind out of range, or to go in as I did. And I would not miss another battle if it were possible to be there. There is a kind of fascination about it. As one of my men told me after the battle, "Lieutenant, I believe you like to fight." I think I do.
By the way, Captain Clark has sent in his resignation, and if it is accepted I shall be a First Lieutenant. I hope it will take me out of the [Signal] Corps for I do not like the business. Another thing, two adjutants who distinguished themselves by their cowardice during the battle have been put into the corps as an alternative, instead of resigning. If you can do anything either at Boston or Washington to get me back to my Regiment, whether I am promoted or not, as they say now a promotion will not take one back, do it as you value my future prospects and happiness. My Colonel, of course, will not promote me if he knows that I can not get back, and owing to mismanagement I am perfectly disgusted with the Corps. I was led into it through misrepresentations of what it was and, of course, desire to get clear of it. Just now I have nothing to do and shall keep in that situation as far as signal duty is concerned if I can till I hear from you.
By the way, there is trouble in the 25th on account of a change of line. New regiments have arrived here and as they are senior to us they take the post of honor from us, although they have never seen fighting and we have fought so well to keep it. Probably many of the officers will resign on that account. I shall not as I have not finished what I came out for yet. But I do not blame those officers that do. Military affairs are governed almost entirely by money and influence joined with wine suppers and such things. I can see more and more of that every day. These influences have been brought to bear against the Twenty-fifth most of the officers think - hence their resignations. Then again, as you said at first, there are a class of men holding some of the positions in our regiment who are determined to have what they want or resign, in other works to rule or ruin and they will leave now without doubt.
If I were free from the Signal Corps, I might be made a Captain and certainly should be a First Lieutenant. I am in hopes that you can find some way to get me out of this. If I thought I could get another position, at least if it were not for going home before the war was over, I would resign although I know that I should always regret such a step.
As I casually mentioned before about 4000 men have arrived here including the Massachusetts 17th and the Second Maryland. The first is a splendid regiment - full. It does one's soul good to see a full regiment once more. The Maryland Regiment was raised in Baltimore where all these troops have been stationed.
We shall not make an outward movement till Fort Macon is taken. Lieutenant Niles of the Corps has just got a furlough, and I wish to write a line to Lilla so I must close.
I will send some things home by him. Tell Mother although anything she sends or has sent will be very acceptable, yet I have found that the less a man has the better, and if I had a chance I would send home some of the things I brought out with me.
Yours truly,
W.F.Draper
You ask me my weight. Yesterday afternoon I weighed 163 pounds. I sent you some trophies. Give a big knife to George Knight, and hang up the other things where they can be seen. But I must close.
Yours truly,
William F. Draper
2nd Lieut. Co. B
25th Mass. Vols.
P.S. I have seen the bill to organize the Corps and if it passes we shall only keep the same rank. Do as I desired you to do and leave no stone unturned to obtain and order for me to report to my regiment. If my name is sent in for promotion, it may change the form of the order so you would do well to know whether it is or not. Never mind that part of it, however, as I can write you if that is the case.
Draper Letters Menu Draper Menu HOME