Daniel makes some references to the economic difficulties his family is confronting in this letter. His younger sister, Jenny, is 16 years old, and her school days now appear to be over. Robie, the youngest is 8, and Archie is 11 years old.

On board U.S.
Rec’g Ship Clara Dolsen
Oct. 13/ [18]62

Dear Father & Mother,

I received your letter last night and was glad to hear that you are all well. I hope that you will write often as nothing gives me greater pleasure than to hear from you. I am sorry to hear that business is slack but I hope it will soon get brisk and that both you and George have steady work. I had hoped that Jenny would again go back to Miss Nardin’s, but as you can’t afford it, of course, she can’t go. I am glad to hear that Robie has begun to like to study. He’ll beat all the other boys some of these days, I think. As for Archie, I know he’ll get along.

You need give yourself no trouble about me as I’m in good health and perfectly at home. I have got used to the food and have begun to like it first rate. “Our crowd” still keeps together, most of them are in the guards[;] dingysome are in the cutter, and I and another boy are in the gig. The old gig’s crew are going with the captain of this boat (Scott) in a new gunboat called the Signal and we are to take their places. The crew consists of six in all. All we have to do is to keep the boat clean and row the captain to shore two or three times a day. We are all green hands but one or two. The coxwain drilled us for the first time this morning. He says we row very well for the first time.

We got our clothing last week. I took another suit like I had when I left; Sailorsalso a pair of blankets. I want you to send me my overcoat if you can, so that I won’t have to get a pea jacket. The weather is getting rather cool now. Last Thursday night and all Friday it rained like sixty. Today the weather is beautiful.

I went to Cairo [Ill] a week ago yesterday. It is the dirtiest and most wicked place I ever was in. One of the boys calls it a second edition of Sodom and Gomorrah. I saw more drunk men there than I ever saw at one time in my life before. The people seem to have no regard for the Sabbath. Although it was Sunday, the stores were open as usual. Sunday seemed to be a great holiday here. Everything is very dear here. There is a one old fellow that comes here in a boat that is making his fortune by selling milk, pies, bread etc., to boat crews. He charges ten cts a quart for milk and in proportion for the other things. I haven’t seen a good peach or apple since I left.

On Sunday the men are all called forward to the forecastle and formed in a line on the port side and as their names are called they pass through between the guards on one side and the officers on the other, over to the starboard touching their caps to the officers. There was a funeral here last Sunday. All those dressed in blue and white marched to the grave. The muster suit of a sailor is a white shirt with blue collar and white pants.

I have no news to give you at present. I want each one of you to write often. Send me a paper once in awhile. Tell Margaret to write to me and give me her address. I send you my card written by Jaime Stewart. Give me love to all at home.

Your affectionate son,

Daniel.

Footnotes

The photo of the "gig" or dingy is an edited version of USS Onondaga on the James River, Virginia 1864-1865. Photograph. NH 60210. U.S. Naval Historical Center. http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h60000/h60210.jpg.

The illustration of the landsmen is an edited version of USS Passaic (1862 - 1899). Line engraving. NH 58734. U.S. Naval Historical Center. http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h58000/h58734.jpg.