Camp at New Baltimore Va

Five Miles from warington

Oct the 22nd 1863

Just got back in Camp after 13 days, has had a hard time of it, feet are sore and ankles swollen. “We have been Retreating & advancing sometimes Driveing [sic] the enemy & sometimes they drove us at one time we were at Fairfax fifteen miles from Washington & then we would advance & the Rebs would Skedadle & all this time we have been carrying the load of a horse they have kept 8 days Rations on our back all the time there has been some pretty hard fighting but as luck would hav eit we did not get into it. We have taken Quite a Number of Rebel Prisoners & they the Rebs have taken some of ours but Not near as many it has been one of the hardest marches I ever saw we was at it Night & Day.” Glad they are stopped for they need rest. He doesn’t know what General Mead’s intentions are but thinks they will lay here for a few days. Sorry he hasn’t written and there is no mail anyway.

“we had 96 Conscrips come to our Regt on the Battle field & the [sic] looked most scared to death it was a Bad time to Bring them to us But they are all right now & improve the looks of our Regt very much by filling up its thinned and Vacant Ranks Poor fletch had to march one day on his stocking feet the soles of his shoes came off & he could not get any more he had very Bad feet But we are all where we can Rest & get Recruited up a little now. “

“You spoke about seeing Bill dagwell on the street I answered his letter imeadiately [sic] & you say you have found out what that is about me & after writeing [sic] a page & a half about telling me you have not done so yet in your letter you kept saying you would tell me But after Reading it over a number of times I could not find it so you will have to write about it again for upon my honor I do not know what it is & it has never Been told me Tom is well & feels so But he thinks Julia is at home I shouldn’t wonder if I did not have to write him a letter this afternoon to send to her it will be a Month yet if not more Before we get any pay & I hope you will not come to want Before that time”

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