Love of gain or honor did not influence him to enter our army... it was a desire to serve his country and do his duty that induced him to leave his peaceful avocations, gird on his armor and join his companions in the risk and hardships of a life in the army.

From the eulogy of Augustus E. Bronson

Introduction

September 1862

October 1862

November 1862

December 1862

January 1863

February 1863

March 1863

A.E. Bronson Eulogy

Dear Friends

I am happy to have an opportunity of writing a few lines to you to day. This picture gives you a balloon view from the east of Fort Marshal and the city of Baltimore. The right wing of our regiment is encamped on the side of the fort towards the city. One company of the left wing is in the west end of the barracks. The long wooden building shown in the south (left hand side) of the picture and the rest of that wing is encamped between the fort and the barracks. The wooden building with eight men in a line on the east side of it is the guard house. That is the place where intoxicated or disorderly individuals find accommodations for the night or a longer time according to circumstances. E. Howe jr. got in the other night for in consequence of being out after 9 P.M. without the countersign, he carries the mail for the regt. and has a pass from the Col. to go and come when he pleases but the pass is not good from 9 P.M. untill the next A. M. so as he did not keep good hours that night he was cribbed.

This cut was taken before our regt. came here so of course it does not show our camp rather of a fortunate circumstance for the appearance of the engraving to in my opinion as we have more styles of tent than even Josephs coat has colors. We have drum beat for roll call at daylight in the A. M. when all have to turn out and answer to the names. drill from 3.30 till 6.30. A.M. breakfast at 7 A. M. drill from eight till ten dinner at twelve. drill from two till four P.M. Dress Parade at 3.30 P.M. and supper at 6 P.M. but it generally a little later before Dress Parade is over so we are usually a little behind time for supper. Tattoo at 9 P.M. when all hands have to turn out again for roll call and every man not on duty or the sick list must answer to his name or go in the guard house. All the duty I have to do except on a march is to go on Dress Parade with my flag unless I choose to go on drill or some other duty. Last night I went out as Sergeant of the Patrol and came in at 12 oclock pretty thoroughly drenched. The tent I am in looks as if it must have been used in the Revolution of 1775 and every war since. and the quality is such that getting in side of it did not mend the matter much. I believe that all of your Phebes acquaintances here are well. Give my kind regards to all and believe me

Ever your friend

Aug. E. Bronson

If you think this scrawl worth an answer you may direct to

Serg. Aug. E. Bronson

Co. C. 17^th C.V.

Camp Sigel, Baltimore, Md

Dear Times:--We are all pretty busy now. Patrol, picket and camp guard, with five or six men every day from each Company to work on the entrenchments, puts each man on duty nearly every other night, besides the work and drill through the day. How the men are going to stand it with such rations as we have here, is more than I can see-but it has to be done. It seems to me however (or would, if it did not appear like a criticism on officials) as if somebody was sticking it on pretty thick. Rev. A. R. Thompson, who was our Acting Chaplain in Bridgeport, came on here last Saturday, preached for us twice on the Sabbath in a grove or park a short distance from the camp and I believe returns north to-day. I expect somebody up that way may get an impression of his idea of the way this regiment is used when he gets back, but I do not know but I am getting on dangerous ground, so I will change the subject.

The fever which has been raging here in regard to the danger of an attack on Baltimore seems to be abating. The reports to-day are that Maryland has been evacuated by Old Stonewall and his forces. How true it is, or where he will turn up next, heaven only knows. All the reports we get are so contradictory that we cannot tell what is what, or who is who.

Sept. 17^th-Since the above was written there has been a decided improvement both quantity and quality of rations. I believe for the last two days all have been satisfied but the professional grumblers. The news here this A. M. is that Harper's Ferry has been taken by the secesh, with eight thousand prisoners and a large quantity of stores. On the other hand we have report of Union victories. The latest reports are that Harper's Ferry has been recaptured by our forces. But why a place like that was left in a position to be captured at all is more than I can see, unless it was intended that the rebels should have a place to get out of the scrape they had got into. The prisoners taken at Harper's Ferry are reported paroled; if this goes on much longer Uncle Sam will soon have a fine family of boys to support in idleness.

I judge from the appearance of the mail bag that our regiment sends about a bushel of letters a day, but we do not get so many back. If we can write the way we are here, it seems to me as if the people at home might answer the letters; I know they would if they could change places with us but a few days. Fruits are plenty and reasonably cheap. Pedlars are not allowed inside the camp now, but they come as far as the guard line, and the boys meet them there.

Sept. 19^th, 9Aa. M.-The system of picket guard by Company has been adopted here-that is, one entire Company goes out for picket guard each night. The Wildman Guard were out last night, so we have no more duty I believe (except dress parade to-night) for the next twenty-four hours. That will give us all one good night's rest, and it is needed too. The constant duty has pretty nearly used up some of the boys for a few days, but none are dangerously ill, I think. The weather is very warm here now, or seems to be.

CAMP SIGEL, Sept. 22d, '62.

Dear Times:--Mad and hungry I take upon to write a few lines. For three or four days we had decent grub, then back we came to (in plain English) stinking meat. Our Surgeon's list on Saturday showed one hundred and fifty sick; Sunday, one hundred and eighty-two. As we have no drill on Sunday, the increase cannot be charged to a wish to shirk duty. The Dr. says if this continues much longer the whole Regiment will be sick. How it is, I can't understand. Uncle Samuel pays somebody to give his boys their victuals, and pays them enough to feed them well, and yet one half the time this Regiment does not have grub that a decently educated dog would eat. Verily somebody is a [many missing words].

Yesterday was the Sabbath. We have no regularly appointed Chaplain as yet. Quite a number from the different Companies went to church in the forenoon down in the village below the camp, called Canton. At 3 P.M. there was a temperance meeting in a grove a short distance from the camp. After some songs and stirring addresses from Corporal Whitney of Co. A., Mr. A. Owen[?] of New Canaan, Col. Noble (who presided at the meeting) was called for. He said,--"My fellow soldiers: I had no idea of being called on to speak, and am not prepared to make a speech; but if there is anything against which we as men and soldiers should set our faces and use our influences, it is the damning one of intemperance. I had no idea that a temperance movement was to be started in the Regiment, but before I left home I organized a Temperance Society of my own; I solemnly promised myself and my God that while I was gone there should be no intoxicating liquor in my tent or drunk in my presence, and there has been none and shall be none there." After talking for a few minutes he concluded with, --"and now, my fellow soldiers, I appeal to you to come up and sign the pledge, about to be presented, to abstain from the use of all that can intoxicate. Sign it, resolved to keep it, and I assure you I will do all I can to prevent you from being tempted to break it." The pledge was then brought forward headed by the name of Wm. H. Noble and as fast as the names could be written till it was time for Dress Parade, it was signed by those who resolved that the Deman of Alcohol should have no dominion over them. The good work has commenced-may it go on till every member of the 17^th shall be a temperance man in deed and in truth.

Sept. 23d.-The following order was read on dress parade last night: No person shall be excused from duty unless excused by the Surgeon at the Surgeon's call at half past 6 A. M.; any person going to the Surgeon at any other hour will be severely punished. The breakfast hour is changed from 7 to 6 A. M., drill from 7 to 8 and from 9 to 11 A. M., and from 2 to 4 P. M., dress parade at 5.

Sept. 25^th.-There was a report in camp this A. M. that the 23d C. V. were to be at the Washington Depot in Baltimore some time this A. M., so Companies C. and D. fell in, and Major Brady mounted his horse for drill, and marched over to the city to meet old friends. On arriving at the depot we met our Commissary Serg't J. L. Day, who informed us that we were "slightually" sold, as there was no prospect of the 23d leaving Conn. for some days. After a rest of half an hour or so we fell in and marched back, reaching camp a little before noon, a little tired and a considerable dusty-found dinners nearly ready-dinners consisted of beef, bread and coffee, all good, (we get good grub once in a while) not much variety, but very substantial. A package of Prayer Books from Rev. Mr. Townsend was received and distributed some days since. Recipients return their thanks. We had a little fun yesterday. A woman who has been washing for some of the boys has also been doing a little business in the whiskey line: She would come in with a basket with the wash in it, go to her customers tents, leave the bottle and the clothes, get dirty clothes and be off. Finally she was suspected and reported to the officer, her basket searched, and the critter found, an escort was provided, and the lady left camp as near as I could judge the tune sounded very much like The Rogue's March.

Sept. 26^th.-Manton is at work on the fortifications to day. Perhaps you may find out what he thinks of the axe or spade, next week.

A. E. B.