Battalion of U.S. Engineer Troops,

Camp At Edwards Ferry Md. 1863.

Tuesday          June 23^d       

  

Dear Sister

                        I is a week ago last Saturday afternoon since we left our camp near Falmouth. I have not had much of a chance to send a letter since then and we have not received any mail. The Batt. marched from our old camp to Acquia Creek and got aboard a steamer. I happenend to be on guard that day and so marched with the wagon train. we traveled all Saturday night to get to Acquia Creek and then found our wagons could not go on the steamer so we went back to Brooks Station from there to Stafford Court House and then to within four miles of Dumfries, where we rested and made / coffee. at eleven that night started again and the next day Monday, we got to Occoquan The battalion had two bridges there and I was relieved from guard. Monday night we took up the bridges and rowed the boats down the creek to Potomac River where we laid till daylight and were then towed up to Alexandria. All day Tuesday we were at Alexandria and lived on boiled eggs, fresh milk, &c. Tuesday night we had to get the boats ready for towing on the canal and Wednesday about two oclock we started again and got to Georgetown at daylight. we were locked into the canal and then laid still till noon when we had mules hitched on and we kept going till dark. then we stopped to make coffee and then kept on till morning when we made / coffee again and built up a shade over the boats because the sun was so hot. Thursday we had a nice day. The canal runs along by the river all the way and there are no houses except by the locks and there only one stone house. we kept going all day Thursday. in the afternoon it commenced raining so we got well soaked. Thursday night we lay still at the Monocacy River. the next day went ashore and camped but at night got on the boats and started back down the river. it was raining and we some expected to see the rebel cavalry. We got to this place Saturday morning and that night threw a bridge across the river. the bridge is thirteen hundred feet long Today we have moved our camp on a hill so as to be in a healthier place. Two of the companies were out a little while this forenoon throwing a bridge over / Goose Creek. It is about 200 feet long. I have had a pretty good time since we left our old camp. for nine nights I did not get much sleep but I did not feel it much It is a pleasant place here and we are all glad to get away from the dirty place we lived in so long. At Occoquan where we threw the bridge there is quite a village. I went to a house there to get some dinner. the woman gave me some poor bread and a cup full of clabber. she seemed to think it something nice but I eat a little of it and gave the rest to a fellow that was with me he was from Indiana and I guess had eaten it before I went to another house then an got some good tea some poor bread, rice pork, and a little fish. they seemed to be nice folks but they have poor bread here and were cut off from getting any thing. I do not know much about our army. The 12^th corps lays on the other side but you know a great deal more than I do about the move. I will send this as soon as I get a chance. Jerome

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