The writer of the letter that follows enlisted at Ft. Snelling, Feb.15, 1862 in Co. G of the 5th Minnesota Vol. Inf'y. He was 18 at the time of his enlistment. His regiment (and he too, I suppose) was in various battles and campaigns, the Battle of Nashville and the campaign against Mobile and the capture of Spanish Fort, being a part of their work.
According to the record given in the book "Minnesota in the Civil and Indian Wars" Ed. F. Weston died July 10, 1862 at Young's Point, Louisiana. C.E.
I had just written the date to this letter when I was interrupted by a sort of cat-fight between Will Trim and another of the Wabasha boys. The fight originated by the aforesaid Wabasha boy finding some letter paper and envelopes which had been taken out of his satchel in Will's bunk. Whether Will stole the paper or not, I do not know, but circumstantial evidence is strong against him.
I have written one letter to you since I have been here but I fear you have not received it as I have received no answer.
We get news every day, sometimes it is that we are to go to Chicago to guard the Rebel prisoners taken from Ft. Donelson, but there is no knowing what is to be done with the 5th. We have to get up in the morning at daybreak to answer to our names at roll-call and cannot go to bed until after eight o'clock in the evening for if we do not answer to our names we are either put in the guard-house or upon extra duty.
We have company drill in the forenoon, battalion drill at two o'clock, and dress parade at four. The dress parade is quite a fine sight. The 4th and 5th are drawn up together and the band plays one or two tunes and we are then dismissed to our quarters. Tuesday at supper the boys upset the table, and, in my opinion, did just right.
There is always plenty of noise here and usually more than is necessary; there is some one boxing or wrestling half of the time, so it is almost impossible to write at all, and now to make a bad matter worse the boys have all gone to making up their beds preparatory to inspection so I will drop this to resume at some more favorable moment.
Since writing the above we have had a military inspection which was a fine affair and creditable to the regiment. I am well with the exception of a bad cold. I hope you will write as soon as you get this, for you do not know how much pleasure it gives a soldier to get a letter from his friends. You must excuse bad writing and spelling and punctuation for I have to write as I can catch it but I will not tire your patience further.
From your scholar
E.F.. Weston.
To
Ursula W. Metcalf
P.S. Direct you letter to Edmond F. Weston care of Capt. Eddy.
