I'll give it a shot:

The bearer, Captain Browning ??? of your command, has come into my custody in a condition ordinarily warranting ????  & uttering statements worthy of lengthy confinement.

However, supposing him better ?? at the front, where he might stop a bullet headed for a more sober officer than ??? valuable space at the Old Hospital I release him to your care.  Do what you will with him only see that he does not come this way again & I will re
remain, regretfully,
Your Old ???

???? Wells
Lieut & PMG

Grumpy,

Do you get some sort of percentage from the sales of replacement keyboards? Gawd!

Probably took lessons from Ol' Blinky....  

  Hallo!

                            Provost Marshal General
                            Alexandria, Va
                            July 20th 1864
                            1 1/2 a.m. (?)

To:  Officer Cod'g 151st NY S V I
    Brandy Sta Va

The bearer, Capt. Browning Wiles of your command, has come into my custody in a condition ordinarily warranting cashiering for (?)uttering statements worthy of lengthy confinement.

However, supposing him better used at the front, where he might stop a bullet headed for a more sober officer than encumbering (?) valuable space at the Old Hospital, I release him to your care.  Do what you will with him only see that he does not come this way again & I will remain, respectfully,

Your Obt Svt,

Henry H.Wells
Lieut Vol & PMG

  Curt

Grumpy,

Deja Vu? In the words of one wag, "Winter 64 still giving."
Seems to me I saw something like that somewhere.

I wonder where?

I was given that letter, unopened, to deliver to my commanding officer at W64.

I portrayed Capt Browning Wiles. Now how do you explain a letter from the Washington Provost, written by him at 1:30am? "I was drunk and I don't remember," was the best I could do. I didn't get the guardhouse at any rate.

Grumpy

Considering the get together at Newfane this past weekend to decide the fate of several older log huts, and the winter camp site in general, this fun thread was quite timely.  The AAR was a good one, but, still, the situation had to have been relatively sad in some ways.  At least the boys got out to a variety of cemeteries to visit the graves of 8th NYHA, 151st NYVI, and 28th NYVI men.

Speaking of such, I do need to gently prod Scott about a little something. Thanks for the reminder.

This weekend, I had to gently and kindly 'splain to a young feller:

No honey, you can't go up with me next winter to do this thing.  Like most good events, its never been an annual thing.  And a whole bunch of younger fellers  with a whole lot of free time got to step up this plate if they ever want to develop something similar again.

Yes, and tell him Officers actually pay for their laundry.;)

Curt's got it, except it's the Old "Capitol" [Prison] and Henry Wells was Lieutenant Colonel and Provost Marshal General in Alexandria, the starting point for the Orange and Alexandria rail line to the "front" at Brandy Station.

I admit to being sufficiently under the influence myself when I penned it, that I had difficulty translating it in the headquarters of the 151st in Newfane.  But I hope you enjoy your souvenir.

Quote :

GrumpyDave wrote : Yes, and tell him Officers actually pay for their laundry.;)