This letter was written by Charles E. Hovey (1843-1863) who enlisted on 21 June 1861 to serve three years in Co. I, 10th Massachusetts Infantry. He was with his regiment until the Battle of Chancellorsville where he was mortally wounded and died on 3 May 1863. Before his enlistment, Charles was employed making envelopes in a factory at Holyoke, Massachusetts.

Charles was the orphaned son of Ezekiel Hovey (1818-1859) and Mary M. Janes (1820-1854) of West Boyleston, Worcester county, Massachusetts.

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

Headquarters 10th Regiment Mass. Volunteers, Co. I
Camp near Washington D. C.
October 4th 1861

Dear Sarah,

I received yours of the 30th all right and now proceed to answer it.

Since I wrote last, we have had quite a time but it did not amount to anything. Last Sunday morning we were routed out at about 4 o’clock and after a hasty breakfast of bread and coffee, with out knapsacks packed and strapped on our backs and two days rations in our haversacks and 40 rounds cartridges (quite a load for 1 horse) we formed a line expecting to have to march every minute somewhere but no one knew where. After waiting about an hour, we broke ranks with orders to be ready to fall in at the sound of the drum but the drum did not sound till night and we had Dress Parade as usual and were dismissed.

The next forenoon we were called out again the same as before and four companies (ours amongst them) were sent off to the large fort and had just got our things all arranged for staying there over night but just at dusk the order came to fall in to go back to camp and we marched back again. As we got almost onto the ground, the drums beat for Battalion line and we could just see the men forming in double quick on the line. We fell in our places and stacked our guns, went to our tents to get a little refreshment, and went right back and stayed about half an hour when a messenger came with orders for us to be dismissed again as the expedition that we were to go on had been abandoned and we went back to our tents feeling as if we did not care whether we ever had a chance to fight.

As to the enemy’s having crossed the river Potomac, there was such a rumor but it is not credited here but I think you. will not have to wait long before you will hear of fighting as everything looks so now. We shall not move our camp. I do not think if we go at all we shall take what few things we need to camp out with in our knapsacks and when the fighting is over, come back to our old ground again.

Enclosed you will find a picture of your humble servant myself and tell Amanda that she can have one if she will answer my last letter. This letter may be post marked at Holyoke as one of our company has received his discharge and I thought it might go safer if I sent it by him. But I must close. If you receive this safe, write right off. Give my best respects to all. Accept my love yourself. Respectfully, — Charles E. Hovey