Letter, Lester Beers to his father, Ambrose, March 8, 1862

	Far from the Farm: The Civil War Letters of Lester M. Beers
The Beers farmhouse

The letter below is from a series of letters written by Lester Beers to his father, Ambrose. See About Lester Beers for editor's notes.

Camp Congreve
Washington 8th March

Dear Father:

As I wrote in my last letter that I should be on guard to day. My saying was right. Last Tuesday evening our camp ground presented a lively appearance the boys formed in a line at one end of the parade ground and with clasped hands started at a full run for the other end Captains Ransom Lieut. J W. Graham with others were standing in the center of the camp ground. They did not give back, and after a manful struggle broke the lines. This seemed to please the officers right well for Lieut Graham (who is beloved by all the company) at once took a part with the boys in their youthful sports. To end the festive joys company B. made a charge on company A. we formed in two columns and at one bold charge drove them from the camp ground. Napolian the first, in his grand charge on the bridge of Lodi did not display more courage than company B in their daring charge of Tuesday last. Such bravery should not go unrewarded But we have most hearty reasons to rejoice over our great victory for it was a bloodless one. This morning the sun rose in all its beauty and splendour with not a cloud to mar natures most pleasant morn. I thought that I should duly appreciate it while on guard But alas, like all our fancied visions, it disappeared like the morning cloud and early dew. About nine o'clock in the morning the western horizon was covered with black clouds and soon the wind began to blow. My health is quite good. Before you get this letter then will be a battle acrossed the river. Poor Jeff. Truly there is no rest for the wicked. Prentice of the Knoxville Whig says they are looking for the southern cause with lanterns in the southern part of Ky. And he says that Tenn. Is the great race course. They have got some very fast runners Price, Floyd, Pillow, Wise and a host more of the southern chivalry. They will hereafter be noted for their swiftness of foot.

The Rev Dr Brithe, [?] who is rector of one of the Episcopal Churches in this city said in one of his lectures that the arch tarudire [traitor?] Soames [?] said at a dinner party that he desired no better epitaph than that he was the one there with the Union and destroy the Capitol such as the characters that have ruled the country for the last six years. Have you read Jeff Davis speech he begins with telling a falsehood They are all great lyers and why should they not be their father the devil was a lyer from the beginning. It is said that we shall not get our pay until the first of April and it may be the first of May We have gay old times you have to sit around the store to keep warm but here it is warm and all the boys enjoy it.

I have written this letter in such a hurry that you will find it a sort of a jungle.

March 8 1862

Dear Father: My paper is very poor and dirty next time I will try and have it clean. I wish you to send me (If you please) the tract entitled "Sameness of words no hindrence to devotion" by the Rev Dr Coit of Troy. It will only cost one penny. Give my love to Grandfather and Grandmother How is the illustrious Sam. [?] getting along with that disdain by the bells of Vista

The parade ground here numbers at least one thousand acres. There was last June a review by General McDowell which numbered forty thousand. So you see that it is considerable of a play ground it is known as Camp Cuncan I send you the outline of our Camp. But I think you will not be able to tell much about it from this My tent is number 2 it is one of the tents nearest the street. The faces of the rebels about here have a most sorrowful looking countenance.

Tell Emmett to visit often and let me know what is going on. What a shame that such robust fellows do not enlist it is a wonder how any of the girls will have any thing to say to them Any sensible girl would much rather have a soldier These ma ma boys should be sent to the war in hopes of making them men Tell Emmrgins Vitarreath [?] that they must not get angry because I have not writen to them It is not because I have forgotten it I will write to them at some future time. I must write to Mr Babbitt this after noon. I have to go on guard at one oclock I shall come off at three.

Your Affectionat Son