Dearest Mother
We arrived here safe and
sound about 4 P.M. of Wednesday, we were
marched directly to Barracks No. 1 where we
went into quarters. We met continually on our
route to the Barracks with squads of Veterans,
who greeted us with the usual Plaudit given
to Greenies, Viz "Fresh Fish." How are you
Fresh Fish? &c. &c. Our journey was very
pleasant, although it rained a share of the
time; we started from Syracuse on the Bimhampton
R.R. about 8 A.M. I was quite disappointed
with what I saw of Homer and Courtland--
after a very fast ride of four hours we
arrived at Bimhampton at 12 A.M. There we
changed cars for Elmira on the Eve Road.
I also met there two young ladies from
[p.2.]
Hamilton, the Misses Rhodes. they were going
up to Elmira to visit their brother who is head
clerk at the Adjt. Gen. Office; instead of riding
with boys I procured a seat next to theirs. I
had a splendid visit with them, we rode on
the banks of the Chenango and Susquehanna Rivers
occasionally crossing them on high Iron bridges,
we had the residence of Daniel S. Dickerson
pointed out to us, on the whole we had
a very agreeable ride, but when we had
to take our heavy satchels and march over a mile
to quarters it seemed something more then a
pleasure trip, and a little like Soldering.
Our quarters here are a little bit
better than I expected and but a little. I haven't
seen any lice or bed-bugs yet, but the other
night one of boys said he saw one crawling up
a rafter with U.S. marked on his back and
[p.3.]
a ringbone on his leg. I haven't been to the
Mess House yet. I went out with the com. to
get our breakfast there, on the morning after we
arrived but just before we got in Major Birdseye
came from town and detailed Addison and I, to go
with him to the mustering office, to help him
make out the mustering roll, he got us our
breakfast at the hotell, we wrote most of the day.
I went over to the Head Quarters of this
department yesterday and there met two boys from
Hamilton, one seems a D,K.E. and was the Adjts. Gen.
clerk, he gave me an introduction to the Adj.
General, he is a D.K.E. also. They both thought they
would confer a favor on me by detailing me
in the office as a clerk, and so they made out
the papers and I was detailed to stay here,
perhaps all Winter or the whole year. They were
made out before I hardly knew what they were
[p.4.]
about, I found out by investigating the business
that although it would be a very safe position,
I would only have the pay of a private and
hence would be constantly running behind h____.
I would be money out of pocket, and besides, I might
be sent to my Regt. at any moment. I thought
on the whole I would rather go on with the boys.
It will not be at all difficult to get it staved off.
The other corps of officers are here, laying around the
hotels, with their uniforms on; as soon as we arrived
here the U.S. Mustering Officer took a vote of the
Batallion as to their comdg. officers, we all to a
man voted for the old ones of course. The Mustering
Officer said by a new act, that they would be
our officers. I hear to-day that the coperheads
are trying to compromise. That shows they are
shaking in their boots. I am detailed by the Maj.
again to-day to make out the pay roll, it will
take a good part of the day, it is much nicer here
than at Quarters. I don't think we will get off
before Monday. Although it has been rainy
and cold the boys keep up their spirits very well.
I will write again soon, from you affect. son
Hervey
Major Mortimer B. Birdseye
Sgt. Addison J. Cole, Co. H, 2nd New York Cavalry
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