Camp at Uptons Hill near Falls

Church, Va. Sept the 6^th 1862

 

Dear Sister

            I have recieved your letter but cant tell as it is your last one because it was not dated you should date your letters. well to commence with I am alive and well after being in 3 days fight at Rappahannock Station, one day at White Sulphur Springs and 3 days at Manassas or Bulls Run. I tell you we have been in some prety hard places. Joe Sanborn had one finger shot off by the axcidental discarge of his own rifle, and we expect he is a prisioner as we have not heard from him since the battle. we lost 4 or 5 out of my Co. none from Tamworth except Sanborn. Old Jackson has driven us about 20 miles, and / now we are within 7 miles from of Washington he is a hard nut to crack You wanted me to write a letter to the Mishion School. I would if I thought myself caperble, but however when we get settled down and I can think of something else but shells & Rebles I will see if I can gratify you it must not be expected that a soldier can compose or write as well as he could if he was at home. we have thought of nothing but war for 8 or 10 months and it would be hard to think of any thing fiting to be read in Sabath School. and then again I dont think they could read my letter for we have nothing to write on but a peice of board or stone or something of the kind. there is some sweet to a soldiers life it is a solem and yet glorious sight to view a battle from an hill / it is hard to shoot our fellow beings but it is a duty we owe to our country and our God to battle for the Union that our Forefathers fought bled & died to establish for us, and we are bound to do it to the bitter end. it is glorious to be in a battle after being in 5 or 10 minuits you will have no fear the bullets & shells from the enemy will whistle around your head and pearce your cloths but you will mind them not your whole soul is roused to new live, and it will be your main object to give back as good as they send. as one of our Cols said to his men, it will be 'Load & Fire! Load & Fire! Pitch into :em', Boys. Give :em' Fitts, &c. Give me a soldiers life. we have got to have more men before we can do any thing. I should think that every man that is able to bare arms would come forward at once and fight for his country there is one thing that / am sory to have to write and that is the death of Isiah Wiggin he died at the hospital in Washington with Typhoid Fever. he was willing to lay down his life for his country but I am sory the sacrifice was required of him he was a good soldier and liked by all. he had but one death to die here and it will be an honnor to his folks to know that he died while serving his country and likewise a consolation. I wish he could of been spared to returned to his friends, but it was ordered otherwise. the Lord giveth and taketh away. I cant think of any more to write I wrote to Father yesterday. My love to all

 

Your affectionate

Brother

2^nd Regt. Co. G. U.S.S.S.

Hatch^s Brigade Kings Division

Washington D.C.

 

P. S. write soon

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