Metadata
Title
David E. Hale to Sarah Josepha Hale
Date
1830/1839-06-18
June 18 [1830s]
Subject
Hale, Sarah Josepha Buell, 1788-1879
Medium
Manuscripts
Language
eng
Type
text
Collection
Sarah Josepha Hale Collection, The Athenaeum of Philadelphia
Identifier
46-M-163
Rights
http://www.philaathenaeum.org/rights.html
Text
Fort Dade June 18
My dear Mother - I have just received your letter
of the 22 May. It is with deep despondency that
I take up my pen to answer it. I have applied
to [DE: Gen.] Gen. Jesup for a leave of Absence for four
months, fully expecting to obtain it, but he has refused
saying that the number of Officers in Florida is so
reduced that the interest of the service requires that he
should let none go unless in extreme cases, such
[as?] sickness [etc.]. Now, I think it rank injustice.
Furloughs are granted according to length of service &
I have done as much duty as almost any officer
in the regiment, and more than the majority of
them. Furloughs have been given to several who have
less claims. I wish I had never entered the army.
If I had not been a young & lasy [lazy] fool I never
should have [done?]. There have been instances of
the grossest partiality, 1st Lt.[?] of my Regt. has
been ordered twice to Florida, & has never been here.
There are six or seven out of 18 first -Lieut. who have
never been here in our Regiment.
I wish I could get sick, but I am of such an
intractable constitution that although I have taken
no care of myself I can't get sick if I would.
All this is very boyish, but I feel so provoked at the prospect
before me that I can't help it. You can't conceive, no
citizen who has lived peacably [peaceably] among his friends and
fellow citizens, can imagine what a disgusting thing
war is, even on so small a scale as the present. It
induces in all, a perfect disregard for the rights & even
lives of others even our friends. A Genl. or Superior Officer,
cares no more for the lives of his men than so much
chaff. It induces a recklessness concerning ourselves
& our own interests, which is worse yet. Penned up in in
small hot-pickets in the [summer?] & wading through
swamps in the winter in pursuit of a gang of [bandits?],
robbers, murderers & runaway negroes - I will think of it
no longer. One thing I promise myself, that if I ever
get out of Fl. I will set myself seriously to get my
bread by the sweat of my brow - The Cheifs [Chiefs] & Indians
left Tampa on the night of the 3d inst. all except Abraham.
Some say the cheifs [chiefs] were forced off by the hostile
Mickasukies, but I beleive [believe] it was all [?] by them
[to?] leave. They have violated their treaty & they ought
to be [?], and slain, without mercy. I expect to
go to Micanopy in a few days, to remain their [there]
this summer. It is a pleasent [pleasant] healthy station. please
direct your next to that place. I am here with
the 6[th?] Regt. Infantry as Ordnance Officer. Nothing to do
but to issue Ammunition. I lay on my back all
day & ready my only book, Shakespeare; when I get
through, I begin again & read it through. I suppose
when I get home I shall be so much improved
as to be taken for a Seminole just caught
I hope you have not engaged any young lady for [ED: page damaged]
for we soldiers hold promises of that sort in great
contempt till we are past [noosed?] - I have got
some cash which I kept for my intended journey
but I will send it to you, as I shall not [DE: yet]
want it. Give my love to Horatio -
Your affectionate Son
D.E. Hale
My dear Mother - I have just received your letter
of the 22 May. It is with deep despondency that
I take up my pen to answer it. I have applied
to [DE: Gen.] Gen. Jesup for a leave of Absence for four
months, fully expecting to obtain it, but he has refused
saying that the number of Officers in Florida is so
reduced that the interest of the service requires that he
should let none go unless in extreme cases, such
[as?] sickness [etc.]. Now, I think it rank injustice.
Furloughs are granted according to length of service &
I have done as much duty as almost any officer
in the regiment, and more than the majority of
them. Furloughs have been given to several who have
less claims. I wish I had never entered the army.
If I had not been a young & lasy [lazy] fool I never
should have [done?]. There have been instances of
the grossest partiality, 1st Lt.[?] of my Regt. has
been ordered twice to Florida, & has never been here.
There are six or seven out of 18 first -Lieut. who have
never been here in our Regiment.
I wish I could get sick, but I am of such an
intractable constitution that although I have taken
no care of myself I can't get sick if I would.
All this is very boyish, but I feel so provoked at the prospect
before me that I can't help it. You can't conceive, no
citizen who has lived peacably [peaceably] among his friends and
fellow citizens, can imagine what a disgusting thing
war is, even on so small a scale as the present. It
induces in all, a perfect disregard for the rights & even
lives of others even our friends. A Genl. or Superior Officer,
cares no more for the lives of his men than so much
chaff. It induces a recklessness concerning ourselves
& our own interests, which is worse yet. Penned up in in
small hot-pickets in the [summer?] & wading through
swamps in the winter in pursuit of a gang of [bandits?],
robbers, murderers & runaway negroes - I will think of it
no longer. One thing I promise myself, that if I ever
get out of Fl. I will set myself seriously to get my
bread by the sweat of my brow - The Cheifs [Chiefs] & Indians
left Tampa on the night of the 3d inst. all except Abraham.
Some say the cheifs [chiefs] were forced off by the hostile
Mickasukies, but I beleive [believe] it was all [?] by them
[to?] leave. They have violated their treaty & they ought
to be [?], and slain, without mercy. I expect to
go to Micanopy in a few days, to remain their [there]
this summer. It is a pleasent [pleasant] healthy station. please
direct your next to that place. I am here with
the 6[th?] Regt. Infantry as Ordnance Officer. Nothing to do
but to issue Ammunition. I lay on my back all
day & ready my only book, Shakespeare; when I get
through, I begin again & read it through. I suppose
when I get home I shall be so much improved
as to be taken for a Seminole just caught
I hope you have not engaged any young lady for [ED: page damaged]
for we soldiers hold promises of that sort in great
contempt till we are past [noosed?] - I have got
some cash which I kept for my intended journey
but I will send it to you, as I shall not [DE: yet]
want it. Give my love to Horatio -
Your affectionate Son
D.E. Hale