The Second Mass and Its Fighting Californians

Camp Near Edwards Ferry, Md

Dear Parents

November 23rd 1863

Dear Mother

I received a letter from You & Pa also one from Walter a few days ago but we moved camp the next morning & this is the first time I have had a chance to write, & now it is nearly midnight.

Yesterday we had a dress Parade of all the Companies in Camp which was eight. there were some appointments made among which was an order making me Sergeant Major of the whole Cav. forces stationed at this point so that now I am the highest Noncommisioned Officer in the Regiment. it gives me less work than I had to do with the company & a great deal better chance for promotion but enough of this. How do you all do, have any of you been sick, if so tell me when you write. Mother you can not tell how pleased I was to have you write to me as you did. I have written two or three letters to Libbie & I am surprised to hear that She had not received them. I have never told who it was that told me those stories, for I thought the less there was written about it the better after i found out they were untrue. but if I live to get home I will tell both of you. "You say Libbie is a jewell of a Girl". I could have told you that long before this, although I do not fancy Her Fathers ways of treatment to Her for I used to think he was very harsh in His manner towards her when She done every thing in Her power to please him. I hope he is different now.

You say Libbie comes down there often. I am glad to hear that & am also glad to hear you speak so well of Her for I think a great deal of your judgement & always did, Mother, although I did not always acknowledge it. But Mother, for Robbies sake, Love Libbie & try & make Her Loss as light as possible to Her. I do not know how long it will be before I can get a chance to go home on a furlough for they do not have a great many furloughs here in the army of the Potomac, but I think I can get one before next Spring, at least the Major commanding this post says that after the first of January He will try & get John Passage & Myself a furlough of 12 or 15 days I hope he will succeed for I would like to go home if it was not for more than three days. Do not let any one see this letter unless it be Libbie, & you can let Her read it if you choose. I received the Needle Book all right & a very acceptable gift it was I assure you. I would not take $25 dollars for it. I wrote to you & Libbie both as soon as I received it.

I must close. My love to all Inquiring Friends. write as soon as possible. Direct as usual.

From Your Son

Robert Henry

Hd. Qrs. 2nd Mass. Cav.
Fall's Church Va. June 2nd/64

Dear Sister & Brother

I received your very welcome letter to night.

I have been very uneasy about Dick & am Glad to hear that he is all right & doing well.

You see by the heading of this that we are in a new camp at a place called Fall's Church; nearer to Washington than Vienna by about ten (10) miles; so that at present we are but about six (6) miles from the Capitol Building.

I suppose you will ask what we moved in for? I will tell you: nearly all of the old Regiments have been sent away from the Defences of Washington to aid Gen. Grant; & new (100) Day men put in the Fortifications to Guard the City & Mosely is of course aware of this, so in consequence he has collected all the men in this part of the state that he can, & makes Frequent raids in toward the city for he does not fear those (100) Day men chasing him, in fact he would like to have them come out after his for he would (Gobble) them all sooner or later for they do not understand his mode of fighting besides they are not acquainted with the country.

Nearly all of Our Regiment is out after one of his Parties. I wanted to go very much but could not as it is the first week in the month & we have a great many Reports to make out which takes (3) three of us (3) or (4) Days to do.

I have been out on two raids since I wrote last, we have lost two (2) Prisoners & (2) two Killed & (3) wounded. We Killed four (4) wounded six (6) & Captured (42). I think that is doing very well.

I must close for I am tired & it is near midnight. My Love to all who may think enough of me to enquire about me.

I sent a picture of our [men] of Co. F. Sergt. John Passage is Orderly Sergt. of Co. F. now. he is doing well. he went out on the raid to day.

Tell Ma not to worry about that ten dollars. I will make it a Present to you (Irena) & Ma.
Good night & Pleasant Dreams.

From your Brother

Robert

Sergt Major
2nd Mass. Cav
Fall's Church Va.

Irena, Walter write soon & every time you hear from Dick.

Valley Md. Mar 9th/65

My Dear Intended Wife

I think you must have more energy for I have received three letters from you all written within one week. That is better than I could expect & more than I deserve although I try & improve every opportunity.

I wrote you Friday eve Feb. 3rd & in that letter told you I did not wish you to try & please everybody if you were obliged to work yourself so hard to do it, if that is what is required of you by them the sooner they find out that they are not to have their own way (if that is it) the better it will be for all parties concerned.

I told you Gen. Sheridan was out on an expedition up the valley; He has succeeded in capturing Gen. Early & over one thousand men; the Prisoners are expected to arrive at Harpers Ferry to morrow.

I shall go over & see them if nothing happens. I am well & have a very good place to stay. I sleep in a house by the kitchen stove.

I am very Greatfull to you Dearest for your kindness in writing to me so often.

From One who Loves You Dearly,

Robert H. Williams

April 29th 65

Dear Friends Carrie & Dave

I have not much time to write but I will try & do better than you did so far as time is concerned although I may not interest you for I have so much to write about that I can not make up my mind where to begin. Well, in the first place we will, Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! & Tiger: - for, if we have not whipped the world, we can do it. that of course is just the same as though we had already done so.

Poor; Sherman! what a terrible Blunder He made. I am sorry for Him; & sorry for myself for it will keep us in the service at least one month longer than it would have otherwise done.

The death of Father Abraham did not make any difference in the duration of the war; that I can see for the the [sic] machinery of Government did not halt for even one moment. every thing moves on just as though nothing had happened, still you can discern in the looks of even the Soldiers that some great calamity has befallen them & theirs; there is scarcely an Officer or Soldier in the army but what wears some token of Affection or mourning for Our Lamented Chief. - even if Washington had lived in this day of strife & commotion I doubt if even he would have become loved, mourned & I would almost say Worshiped as Abraham Lincoln Our late President was. It seems almost sacreligious to say that I do not think His superior or even His equal has lived on earth since the Ascension from the Mount of Olives. but I must say that I do Honestly & Firmly believe it. & I wish you to remember that I am not now nor never was a man worshiper; but I have seen so much of this Great & Good Man that I cant but admire & applaud; but his life will speak out for itself & does not require my feeble pen & mind to applaud.

I expect to be home to help you celebrate the Fourth of July. that is if Sherman does not hold any more peace conferences with Joe. Johnston or some other Joe.

You are not much of a military genius for you are not protected against flank movements.

You say that times are dull & that you are not very busy consequently I want to hear from you oftener. ask all the questions you wish & I will try & answer but write at all events.