Camp Near Sharpsbubgh,
November 22, 1862.
I have received to-day the long-looked-for box of clothing
which you have so kindly made and sent to my company.
I have felt very thankful to you all since I first heard of
the interest which has been shown to serve myself and my men, but I never
appreciated the extent of the gratitude that I owed you till I saw the amount
of labor and pains that must have been bestowed to produce such a quantity of
most excellent and comfortable clothing. I had my company formed and marched to
my tent, where I read your note, and then I commenced the distribution of the
shirts and stockings; I first gave each man in the company one of each of these
articles, and then to every sergeant and returned prisoner, or any one else who
had seen especially hard service, another one, making as fair a division as I
could. The written instructions found with some of the stockings were very
entertaining and proved very useful in the distribution.
I believe that my men felt truly grateful to you for your
kind present, and though a soldier shows very little emotion, whatever may
occur, yet when they thanked me, I knew that they meant what they said. It must
be some comfort to every man to know that while he is suffering hardships and
dangers, he has kind friends at home who are thinking of him and administering
to his comfort and happiness. You may be sure that it is a strong motive for us
to do our duty bravely, knowing all this, and feeling that we have your best
wishes.
Once more I thank you, each and all, most heartily, and hope
that at no very distant day, I may do so in person.
SOURCE: Charles Fessenden Morse, Letters Written
During the Civil War, 1861-1865, p. 107-8
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