December 7, 1861
Dear Father:
I received your letter to-night and as I shall go on guard to-morrow I will answer it now. I don't feel right to-night as I did when I wrote the other letter. I was a little blue then. It was a miserable kind of day, and I did not feel just right. Lieutenant Emery had been about half sick just well enough to do all of his duty that I was ambitious to do, and leaving the rest for me to do. I have nothing to complain of in particular.
The Colonel has complimented me for the apparent interest I take in military matters. What I was thinking of then was that I must wait for promotion till Lieutenant Emery is promoted, And if he don't study, I don't think that will happen very soon. In fact, I think his highest ambition is to keep the place he has now. So, no matter how much I know I shall probably have to stay where I am on that account. But facts are stubborn things. To be sure, I have a good place now, but then if I see that I am more competent is disposition, education and capacity that a man immediately above me, it must sometimes make me feel uneasy.
I might easily have occupied a lower place, but others with less capacity and exertion have higher ones. I don't wish to speak ill of Lieutenant Emery for I like him much as a man, but I know I am his superior as an officer, and if I am now, how much more shall I be at the end of three years, if we both live? But we must learn to be contented wherever we are placed.
We officers have a bayonet exercise every morning at the Colonel's headquarters. Colonel Sprague is the instructor. My knowledge of McClellan was very useful to me. Colonel Sprague picked me out to fence with him for an example. I am taking lessons in boxing and fencing mornings before drill. Am increasing in strength every day. I commanded at battalion drill last Monday, and made less mistakes than are generally made, in fact none of any account.
You wished to know what General Foster found that was previously overlooked. Well, handkerchiefs inside the breasts of the coats; belts too tight; or too loose; buttons off; haversacks and canteens hung too far forward and so on. I believe I wrote you that we have the post of honor, the right of the first brigade. I have just given a dollar toward sending some fugitives north. They are now in Captain Wageley's tent. His first lieutenant is my fencing master.
By the way, our pay does not come along. Hope it will soon or I shall be short. By the way, the evolutions of the line you sent me was not the one I wanted. I wish Scott's. I wish you would send it tome. We are to have Brigade drills soon. When we shall leave here, the Lord only knows, probably not within a month. If you have nothing else to send, you might put the Evolutions of the Line in a box from Milford to the Company. Several have come. I believe that they are put up at Perrigo's.
Love to all.
Yours truly,
W.F. Draper
Draper Letter Menu Draper Menu HOME