Franklin County: Henry C. Metzger to His Father,
January 12, 1865
Summary:
Metzger writes to his father about the execution of a deserter, recent
thunderstorms, and a humorous mistake in the playing of "Reveille."
Letterhead: CITY OF CINNCINATI.
City Clerk's Office. Father
January 12th 1865
Dear Father,
Last Friday at 12 O'Clock, Michael Wert was shot for trying to desert to the enemy. eleven balls went through his body, killing him instantly. he leaves a wife and five children behind. On Tuesday we had a very heavy Thunder Gust here, it was Lightning and Thundering all day.
Today our Division is out on review. You would be surprised to see the number of deserters that come in our lines every night. they say that they don't like the President's call for 300,000 more men. They are on short rations.
Night before last I made a big mistake. about one O'Clock in the morning I got up
and looked at my watch to see what time it was. I saw
it was 6 O'Clock, not knowing that the watch had stopped. I picked up the bugle
and played with the Reveille. In five minutes the
drummers and buglers in our whole Brigade were out playing the Reveille. In a
short time an orderly from Div. Head Quarters arrived
at our Regimental Head Quarters with a note to
our Colonel inquiring the cause of all this fuss so
early in the morning. by this time the whole Division was up, our Col. sent for me and wanted to know what in the Devil I was
about in blowing the bugle so early, I saw that it was
all he could do to keep from laughing while the orderly was present. I told him
that I thought it was the right time. He says look at your watch once. when I
looked I saw that it was still 6 O'Clock. I knew then that the watch had
stopped.
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He drew out his watch and says here I will show you what
time it is, fifteen minutes past one. As soon as the
orderly had left the Col. rolled and laughed.
The irons that you sent for my boots I never received. Don't forget to send the Hanover Spectator, and tell Mother or Kate to send me those two books that they will find among my music. one is called the Comet Instructor and the other has 6 or 7 hundred pieces of music in it, with drum and fife calls for the army. it is about 12 inches long and 10 inches wide. both have paper covers. I have not Received a Spectator since I left home.
Next year by this time, all that do not enlist in the regular Army, will be at Home. If mother sends a box tell her to put some old dollar Magazines in. we have nothing to read. I am well.
Give my love to all.
Your Son
Henry C. Metzger
