CurrieWeb.com

home . archives

January 3rd, 1864:

by srcurrie

"...we are havin good times" It was with those words that Private William Galpin of company H of the 76th NYSVI ended his letter of January 3rd, 1864 to his father.
The 76th was encamped in winter quarters at this time in Culpeper, Virginia. The men were in generally good spirits and well encamped. When, after several previous moves, they were finally settled in their permanent winter camp the men had set about building small log cabin-like shelters. These shelters often had shelter-half (canvas) roofs and pipes or barrels for chimneys. They were aligned into 10 "Company Streets" with the shelters of each company aligned along their own street in camp. Thus arranged, the entire 76th Regiment lived until spring.
There were many duties to perform in camp as well as drill to keep the men sharp. The men could work on their shelters over time and improve them to the point where they could be reasonably comfortable. The men would also frequently engage in various activities such as gambling, drinking, singing songs, talking politics or even going to church services as a small example.
During January 1864 the 76th was temporarily transferred to the First Brigade. During the month General Rice, commander of First Brigade, organized a theatrical troupe for the amusement of his command. A large log house was erected to serve as a theater and on the 23rd of January the theater opened with a show of Hamlet. The entertainers were known collectively as the "Star Troupe" and their rendition of Shakespeare was much appreciated by the soldiers on their "cracker-box seats".

Sources:
History of the 76th New York Volunteers, 1868 A.P. Smith
Hard Tack and Coffee, 1888 John D. Billings
http://www.bpmlegal.com/76NY/76letters.html