To Rebecca

Camp at Elk Water Sept 28^th 1861

 

Dear Sister

                        I take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well and hope these few lines may find you in good health I am sitting in my tent trying to write you a few lines but I think from the awkwardness of my writing table which is a small piece of board and a poor pen in the bargain it will be very poorly written if not worse

 

We have had plenty of rain and very high water and plenty of mud and still drizzleing with rain. a very laughable incident occurred just now. a couple of boys that had been out on picket wanted to cross the river so one of our teamsters got on a horse to go over and ferry them across and instead of going across in the usual place he went to far down the river and got in where the horse could not touch bottom and held the bridle so tight / that he could not swim and so he jumped off and swam ashore and the wettest coldest looking specimen I ever saw and he also to stand all the fun 1500 men could make of him. the boys that have been for the last two or 3 days are just comeing in and the worst coldest wettest looking boys you ever saw and Gordon and all the rest of the boys that you are acquainted with were among them and 15 shots was all they got at the Secesh and there was 2200 of them. I would like to hear something more about Will for you know the last Irishman you wrote about was Hank and speaking about Hank puts me in mind of my wild Irish gal and speaking about the wild irish gal puts me in mind of the letter I wrote to her the other day you know you told me to write it and you know that you told me to not write to Mary any more and I will tell you how that was. when I was at Oakland in Maryland I wrote her one letter just for picking and she wrote / me one of the most sickning foollish most nosensickal never was penned before and I never answered it nor never shall. Tell Jane if she sayes anything more about letters that as soon as we get into a battle if I dont get killed I will write her a bushel of letters.

 

I want you to write often and give me a vivid description of the first party or apple cutting there is in the neighborhood Tell Lina that she writes very well and she must be a good girl and learn as fast as she can and tell rachel and elmira to be good girls. Give my love and best respects to all the folks. if you see any vestils folks tell them Black is well and tell Mary gordon if you see her that Jot is well

 

Just as soon as you find out where pa is going and the number of the regiment let me know for I would to write to him. I must bring this to a close

 

write soon. from your affectionate brother George W Young /

 

address

George W Young

Huttonville V^a

C^o D. 17^th reg Ind vol

in care of capt Allison

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