From Cyrus Strong to John Clapp

[001]

Woodstock March 29th 1844

My dear sir,

Your letter was rec'd long ago.
for which I ought to have expressed my thoughts much
earlier than this but the truth is I desired to
recognize and make one letter answer both for said
acknowledgement to you and to let the good people
know when they might expect to see me home.
I still call Binghamton my home, although the folk
here claim me as a resident, make me
do road duty and return me to court martial for not
attending training! They are so barbarous as not to
consider Genl. Crain's discharge a sufficient excuse and
ordered me to appear "armed and equipped" to do duty
in the rank which I could by no means consent
to do after having fought as an officer under so
distinguished a chief. Only think of putting a
major of the thirty second brigade of infantry of the
state of new York one who commenced his military
career under the distinguished Capt. Gurnsey (more
favorably known to the world as The Pullet) and finished
it as a staff officer of Brigadier General Herdric Crain [?]
only think I say of putting such a man into the
rank to "solder musket" and do duty with a lot
of of dirty Florida Crackers and cow thieves.
Is it not awful!

[002]

[left page]

I have set the 10th of April as the day of my
departure from Woodstock and shall probably be in
New York by the 20th where I expect to be detained a
few days If nothing extraordinary takes place
I hope to have the happiness of seeing my
Binghamton friends between the 25th and 30th of next month.
I returned a short time since from town where
I had been spending a few days as a sort of
vacation I found many young ladies there form the
Islands an dup country which with the usual stock on
hand made the stupid little place quite gay.
I passed the time very agreeably and for the first time
left the town with something like regret.
The rain has been pouring down all day: and such
Thunder! There is a prospect of a fresh. I have
been out all the morning making sure some raft of
Timber got thoroughly soaked came in changed my clothes,
smoked a cigar, and sat down to write you this
letter which but for the rain you might
not have got quite as soon. Our rice field,
were almost ready for the seed the hands had been
preparing the ground for three weeks past. All
of which is lost on account of the rain.
Everything in the garden looks well. The orange
tree promise an abundant crop. I have had the
Irish potatoes hoed the second time. The corn is about
a foot high, pea are in bloom. The top onion
which I brought from B. are growing finely and smell as
"flagrant," as onions of their age and size usually do.

[right page]

My orange orchard is not as large as it will be in
a few years if nothing happens to it get it look very
respectable at present. I have between 800 and 1000 trees.
I suppose something upon the new house. If they commence
operations before I get home as I think they will
I want them to be sure and take the plaster house
from where it stood and place it someplace on the
north side by the Well or Woodhouse. I intend
putting out trees and in the front yard this Spring
I shall procure the material for the hard finish in NY
Carman can get the timber for the barn ready if it
has not been done but must not put it up until
I get home. Will you inform mother that about
3 weeks ago, as Old Blue, was at the foot of the slide
on the lookout for grubs a piece of lumber came down
and completely crushed her leg I have had her under my
special care since that time and although not recovered
she is much better and begins to use the wounded limb.
Old Mrs Saddler is at Woodstock She desires
love kind remembrances and to mother.
I came near forgetting to say that we
were all well soon to the children Tell
Rosalind that we have got a little nigger baby
that came very near being named after her
but its mother thought Lucy was prettier and so it was named
Lucy. Love and everybody, I am yours Cyrus Strong, Junior

[003]

John Clapp Esquire
Binghamton New York

[written inverse]

Cyrus Strong Junior
March 29 1844