"I learned from Margaret last night that you have joined the army ..."
[CIVIL WAR RELATED LETTER] Autograph Letter Signed. Office of the Boston Journal printed letterhead. 4pp. Sept.19. 1862. 5x8". Includes beautifully illustrated envelope from the Boston Journal, with postal stamp. Signed only as "Charles" and addressed to John Came, a union soldier who was died of disease three months after this letter to him was written. Charles gives his family member advice on becoming a good officer:
"Dear John, I learned from Margaret last night that you have joined the army. I am glad of it. I don't feel ever like persuading anybody to volunteer, because it is a matter for each man 's own judgement. If he wants to go, he will, and if he don't he won't - and there's an end of it, so far as I am concerned anyhow. But I must say that I have a mighty poor opillion of any young man who does not have the strongest impulse to enlist for this war and who is kept out of it by any but the strongest obstacles.
For my own part, the thing has troubled me more of less all summer ... I felt also - however absurd it may appear to others - that I was rendering the public more service now that I should be as a volunteer. So I have reluctantly given up the notion ...
. . . I don't set up for an advisor, but f have seen a few things in the world, and allow me to say - now you are going to be an officer, be one. Go into it all over. Be a little better posted up in everything that is done than anybody else. This opens the way for promotion, and satisfies subordinates. Keep your hair cut, look trim and officer-like. You will find this more important hereafter than you think it is perhaps. Gradually grow to be firm and rigid with the men while on duty - but share all their discomforts and take good care of them. You are above them for their benefit, and when they see that you feel so, you can do anything with them. One half of our officers are a disgrace and curse the army ...
The national situation looks a little better now, but I think it will take the York county quota to finish the rebellion ... " Minimal toning on blue lined paper. An interesting letter with a nice presentation. Very Good.
