Dear Parents
Yours of 10th inst. was received last night. I was very glad to hear from home once more: Our mails have not been very regular lately, consequently when they do come they are doubly appreciated by the boys. We are in as bad a fix here as you are at home about news – have none at all therefore it is almost impossible to write anything worth reading. If you do not get letters oftener than once in two weeks the mail is at fault and not me, for I write regularly once a week.
I would much enjoy a dozen or two of your green apples. I dreamed last night of being at home and eating apples and some of Ma’s nice mince pies, curley cakes and lemon pies: but away with such thoughts – it is not meat(sic) for soldiers to indulge in such thoughts.
I am much rejoiced to learn that the spring elections are terminating all right. Capt. Golden has not yet and I believe there is not much prospect of his having justice done him in the way of promotion. It does seem strange to me that a man should be so basely wronged twice without any explanation. Fearing is Col., Doug Lt. Col, and jersey Dave has received a commission and will probably be appointed adj. of the regt. .A Sergt with no less influence can be promoted to rank of first Lieut. yet the ranking Capt. from Athens Co. cannot become Major - well, thanks be to the fates, “every dog will have his day.” (Ed. note: this paragraph contains references to a variety of events which may have appeared earlier in letters now lost. Many promotions occurred on Mar. 22. Col. Van Vorhes left; Benjamin Dana Fearing of Harmar (Fearing House now belonging to the Historical Society) was promoted from Lt. Col. to Col. of 92nd ; “jersey” David E. Putnam (of Harmar) with Co. F was promoted from Sergt. To 1st Lt.. and Adjutant . In fact, as noted earlier, Capt. Golden was promoted to Major but the approval had not yet filtered down from Washington).
John Higgins (another Co. A private) deserted Fe. 4 while we were lying at Ft. Donelson - since then we have heard nothing from his whereabouts but supposed he was at home.
We are still having fine weather. The grass affords good pasture, trees are most all leafed out - the birds are gay with song and busy building their summer habitations; but still the sickness of our Regt. does not decrease – have lost by death since we left Nashville from the Regt. sixty-one. Many more are still sick. Cal Wells is very sick – his recovery is very doubtful. Cooley is yet very weak may get well. Frank and Mat Scott are all right. That Cream Tartar does the water much good. (Ed. notes: Some years earlier it had been recognized by Pasteur that tartaric acid was effective in controlling the bacteria responsible for several diseases. About ten years later he recommended its use to control wild yeast strains that caused unpleasant taste in beer production. See “CHEMICAL HERITAGE”, Vol. 20, No. 4, page 40, for more details. The 92nd contained over 900 men when formed in Aug., 1862. It had lost 61 men to disease in 7 months, a rate typical of the Civil War!)
Much love to all affectionately
your son David Putnam
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