...Burnt some bridges on the rail rode leading from washington city to Baltimore. our Brigade returned by another rout close to washington and in a few miles of the city the came uppon ten yankeys with a drove of mules 225 in number and captured the mules and and a portion of the men and returned to our main force which was near the breast works around the city there outer works some say were in five miles of the city and others say it is eight miles I herd one our men say that they went near enough to see the Capitol we remained there two days and then retreated out crossing the river close to Leesburg loudon County Pa we brought out a great many horses & cattle the yankey Cavalry overtook our rear guard the first day in the evening General Jackson was left to bring up the rear with his brigade he turned uppon them and chased them back about three miles and took some forty or fifty prisners all of our Cavalry stayed a good piece behind our infantry to give them time to cross the river by this time the yankey infantry had gotten up and we had to fight and fall back untill we all got across we crossed and camped close to the river that night the yankeys got there artilrey in a position on the other side and shelled our regment and one or two more out of camp we had to move a few hundred yards to get out of reach of there shells. we camped there a day or two and fell back across the Shenado river the yankeys crossed the Potomack and pursued on after us / a portion of our infantry made a stand at Shenado river I think it was Breckenridges Division we wipped the yankeys there again then our infantry all fell back to Strawsburg our Cavalry fighting them nearly evry day trying to draw them up to our infantry but they smelt a mouse and we could not get them up finally Early took after them and drove them back across the Potomack Some time last week our Cavalry crossed the Potomack again and went into Pensylvania and made a reqisition on Chambersburg for five hundred thousand Dollars to pay for the property that old Hunter burnt on his raid to Lynchburg but the mayor of the town refused to do it and our men set the town on fire and burnt nearly all of it up. I have not been with our Brigade for some time the first day after I got back from maryland I was detailed to drive cattle for the Brigade and when they crossed the Potomack the second time we were sent back to newtown with the cattle to pasture them here untill further orders we have been here 9 days now and have not received any orders yet I understand that our infantry have all crossed into maryland again. I must close give my love to Jimmy and tell him to be a good boy give my love to enquireing friends if any and accept a large portion for yourselves I have not received any letter from home since the 25^th May I am getting very anctious to from Elizabeth and my sweet little children oh if I could onley see them one time more it would afford me so much pleasure please write to me amediately / and give me all the news good or bad let me know how crops are in Franklin &c

 

I remain as ever your friend and brother untill death Fare well for this time

 

do not fail to write to me amediately                                                                              

E. B. Wade

 

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