Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-12-12

Rev Mr.. BARNARD of Boston went 70 North
Carolina in the same steamer with the 5lst regi-
ment. Oar letters from the regiment have
made u1ention,of him. In the following, which
we copy from the Boston Transcript, he speaks
of the regiment and tells how he became mail
carrier. His name is not given in the article;
but the initials and the circumstances narrated
sufficiently indicate the writer's name. Ii will
be seen that he speaks in high terms of the regi-
ment and of its disposition and faculty for letter
writing The account of his "assorting the
mail" and his report in regard to the address of
the letters, will not be without interest to those
who have friends in the regiment. Here is
what he says
'0ur Soldiers LetterS.-Having the good for
tune of beng on board the Merrimac with the
5lst Mass. regiment, the day before they landed
at Beaufort, n. c., we were struck and delighted
with their general and earnest devotion to letter
writing. Every available portion of the noJle
ship was covered with the gallant soldiers stoop-
ing TO their welcome task. Their own tin plates
and cap covers, or the vessels seats, planks &c,
were the desks, and hundreds of pencils, with
here and there pen, were Swimming over the
sheets like so many sea-birds' wings All hands
were busy-all voices hushed. After our toss
ingS off 1.-THE stormy Hatteras," the whole action
and scene were indeed serene and beautiful. 1t
was Saturday, but seemed to be the Sabbath.
The next day, at the close of short and simple
service, the troops were urged to resume and
complete their sacred task, and the pledge was
given them that their letters should be borne di-
rectly and speedily on their homeward way.
The boys needed nc further hint or help, and
were at their business again with will; 4 few
hours after found all our means of transport taxed
to the uttermost with the miSsives OF this rcgi-
ment and Others already AT Newborn. We whiled
away our leisure, our return to the north, with
counting and asserting the mail. The letters,
papers and parcels numbered 2745. OF THESE,
lI07 were addressed Mrs, $50 Mss or 1857 to
ladies; while 56i were addressed to Mr.. and 442
to Esq Rev, other titles, with few bearing
the christian and surname only, giving 1006 TO
gentlemen. The papers and parcels were AZ in
all, distributed in about the same way the let
tiers. The whole collection eyinced uDmistaka-
bly, the care and culture aud domestic feelings of
the writers; hardly single direction was not cor
rectly and distinctly given Many Of the ad-
dresses had been printed beforehand, almost all
were as plain as print asld not a few rs hand
some as copperpIate.' Hardly any misspeing
was to be detected
ave were proud of our freight; our signature
was pencilled on some of the corners in attesta-
ton of our pleasure, and with the hope that it
might please those whom the episteS were 10
reach, that we too had been where they were il
ten. Our mail was at first made up for the Bos.
ton ottce, but when the course was changed TO
New York, we found it best 70 divide the whole
between the offices at New York Worcester, Fra
mingham, West Newton and Boston, and could
the writers or the recipients have witnessed tue
cheeriullness at every point with which our hands
were helped in getting the parcels along it would
enhance the pleasure which, we trust aud pray,
the opening of each envelope afforded them.
We should, indeed be panied if single letter of
all that We were entrusted with was retarded or
lost upon the way. We carried one for Holmes
Hole in our hand all day, the second Sunday OF
our voyage, while We lay at anchor through the
gale, in sight, perhaps, of the very home it was
10 gladden., and forced at last TO let it drift
ON a great CIRCLE via New York and Boston
back again to its haven. That and all the resi-
were, we hope, at home, at last. C. F. B."