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Captain Fredrick Ranger 22nd New York- Ranger is sick and write of his troubles and travels
Item #: 25071
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Captain Fredrick Ranger 22nd New York 6.5 PP, 8vo, pencil. Ranger is sick and write of his troubles and travels at length.

Washington, D.C. Jan 20th, 1863 Lichan House, Tuesday eve My Darling Wife & All the Loved Ones, Aren’t you surprised now to see this letter dated Washington? Well I will give you a full history of matters & things to date. If I am not just the luckiest individual in the known hemisphere. You remember I wrote I was considerable under the dumps, I had had some considerable rheumatic & a few days ago was taken with chills & had some severe shakes. However I got rid of my chills but my rheumatic still remained & I did not feel well altogether. Did not sleep but very little nights & couldn’t lay & rest at all nights. Sunday we rec’d marching orders to start Monday morning but they were postponed two hours. Monday noon the sick were ordered to be sent to Division Hosp. that just instituted on an Island in the river opposite Belle Plain consisting of about 1200 large tents. So we were taken in ambulances down to the wharf. About 400 of us put aboard the steamboat & taken to the Island. Upon arriving at the dock the surgeon informed us that there was no accommodations for us. No beds up, no stoves up & nothing to eat, pleasant went it. The privates were sent back to their Regt. The officers (15 of us) continued by advice of the surgeon to try to get to Washington but it looked like a dubious undertaking and we had no passes., However we waited and waited & finally a little steamer came down from Acquia Creek & when she went back, we went with her. Got to Acquia Creek & found a boat just going up to Washington loaded with condemned horses. We hunted around, found the Col of the Provost Guard who proved to be a Mason & passed us aboard & at one o’clock this morning we landed at the foot of Sixth St found a saloon open & got some nice oysters & then went to the National to bed. Got up this morning & went hunting round for some of the Officers & first thing ran into Dr. Holden & Matt Teller who are boarding here. Doc gave me the gratifying intelligence that my trunk had gone down to Belle Plain this morning for express, however we went round to the express office to be certain & there we found it. They sent it down to the boat but there was no key to unlock it so that the authorities could search for anything contraband & they would not let it pass & sent it back & so I found it. I then went up to Dr. Clymore & reported for treatment. Got his certificate & Provost Marshall’s pass while I am here and everything is square. I then came back here & engaged board, got my trunks here & am comfortable as can be. I have had the trunks open and everything out and as a natural consequence could eat no supper. Although the provisions would have been a greater Godsend in camp, they taste glorious here. I have looked at Father, Mother, Fan & Florence & looked at them & they are now laying on the table before me. The wallet & diary were just what I wanted & you can image me now in a nice comfortable room with a coal fire. The Lichan House is not a first class house but I guess it will answer for a soldier. I now propose stopping here sometime & spending my time seeing the Lions of Washington & promise myself a good deal of enjoyment. I have to report to Dr. Clymore every 2 or 3 days. Oh I have been so fortunate in everything since I left the Regt. A.W.P. was truly on my side. The Regt is probably moving today and I can truly sympathize with the poor fellows leaving that nice comfortable quarters & bivouacking these cold nights. Now I suppose you would like to know about my arm. Did you expect to hear that I was shot? Well Darling I had my sword returned after 3 or 4 days & now everything is all right. I shouldn’t have written about it but was afraid you would hear some cock & bull story as I know so many stories go from camp with large embellishments & I thought I would inform you of the matter. Will give you fuller details when I return. I don’t care near so much about service as I did when I enlisted & am a great mind to resign. What do you say, Dearest? Shall I? Oh by the way, I am Capt. Ranger. Capt. Fred E. Ranger at your service & of course I feel excessively larger. I rec’d my commission the morning I left the Regt & I am Capt.from Nov. 5th & now for Father. Of course it will commence with what I want. I want him to see Mr. Peat & have my clothes made as quick as possible & have them made bully. Coat, vest & pants made after the same measure s those he made before. Pantaloons lined and a light blue well let into the seam. Coat collar lined with velvet on the inside. 2 breast pockets in coat, 2 in the shirt and a tool pocket, 4 pockets in vest & 4 in pants. Buttons on coat & vest to go on with rings. Also a white vest coat & vest well padded. The white vest to be made of Marseilles plain, not figured. If those are finished before you get my next send them to me by Adams Express. There Darling I have written quite a letter & will write every day or so telling you what I see, etc.etc. We have just been having a turkey supper Dr. H, Lt. Teller & Capt. Coleman & quite an easy time. I tell you the turkey was good & everything. Those doughnuts are what I have been wanting for a good while. Tell Father to direct my letters: Capt. Fred E. Ranger Lichan House Washington , D.C. for the present Kiss my darlings many times, tell aunties I am much gratified with their letters & will answer them soon & with all your husband’s love and warmest kisses, I will bid you Good Night. Your loving husband, Capt. Fred What is Alonzo Morgan doing here? Wednesday Morn Jan 21st, 1863 My stars how it rains forbidding going out today. Have just been to breakfast. If the Regt has not moved it will not move, I hope it has not. Bye, Bye Fred

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