Corporal Titus Moss Letters - Cheshire Historical Society

Corporal Titus Moss Letters, September 1862 – March 1863 Page 59
Letter Number 31 written by Titus Moss on 4 January 1863
Fairfax Station Jan 4
My Dear Wife
It is the close of another Sunday but to me it does not seem at all
like Sunday. There has bee a review of our division. There are four
brigades in it and long strings of artillery. We were drawn up in
line each brigade by itself rode in front of the other. Gen Slocum
and staff rode in front and back of each brigade and then we were
marched by Co. past them the artillery after us. Came in camp half
past one oclock feeling quite tired. Had dinner of soup and gave
myself a good washing and was expecting to write a letter to you
but the order came to fall in for a dress parade after the usual
ceremony we formed in a hollow square and the articles of war
read to us and the president proclamation. The Col made a speech
and a good one using the strongest language possible. The point
was that slavery was the cause of the rebellion
2. and the way to put down the rebellion was to destroy the cause.
He said he wanted the 20 th to know his sentiments and expected
every man to do his duty and if he met with anything that needed
to be crushed he should do it if possible. All that I have heard
speak of it like his sentiments first rate. Three lusty cheers were
given for the Col. I like what he said but did not feel like cheering
and kept still. After this aa appropriate prayer by the chaplain after
all this and supper it was night and I had not written. In the
evening we had several calls so that it nearly roll call before I
could sit down to try to write a few lines. There was quite a serious
accident during the prayer a man discarged his gun with his arm
over the muzzle and the whole contents passed through a little
above the wrist. Surgeon Casey thought he could make a good arm
of it.
He was not more than five rods from the square we were in. I
could not help thinking that if
3. he was where he ought to have been he would not have hurt his
arm. I do not know but he had a good reason for not being with his
Co.at any rate he was very careless with his gun. I am sorry you
get discouraged and while we stay here will try to write more
punctual than I have of late. The days are very short and we do not
have our breakfast very early then there is our regular duties to
attend to but we have a good cabin and can burn a light if the wind
does blow. I shall try to find some that I can buy and then I can
The Cheshire Historical Society
Cheshire, Connecticut 06410
http://www.cheshirehistory.org
April 2005