Camp in Pleasant Valley Md.

Three miles from Harpers Ferry Oct 7/62

 

            Dear Sister

                                    Your very kind letter rec'd while we were at Camp Chase, has not yet been answered yet Therefore will attempt that now. Since my last letter home, we have "changed base" several times. The very morning I sent a letter home from Washington, we left that half baked city and steered North-West. Our first stopping place was Washington City, where we were delayed twenty four hours sleeping with the "Canopy of Heaven" over us for a tent. We tented down upon a grass plot about a mile from the Capitol, expecting to move at any moment, were only waiting for transportation. In the morning I found my head somewhat damp. The dews are some here I tell you. (However that thing has got to be an old story now, viz. Sleeping out). Finally we got cars and started the next day at 11 a.m. But such miserable accommodations as the men had, it was enough to make them grumble. Were crowded into shaky cattle cars just about large enough for half their number some of the cars iron cased, so the men could not break holes in them, for they will make / a wreck of common cars if there is not enough holes in them for air. Arrived at Frederick City Md. the next morning at 4 a.m. having been seventeen hours on the road a distance of only 70 miles. A team of mules could have taken us that distance about as soon. A few notes from my journal of our week might be interesting—"3 P.M. Wednesday Oct. 1^st At Annapolis a very pretty place—3½ at Relay House more famous by reputation than good looks. We file left here and follow the Patapsco instead of going to Baltimore—4½ at Ellicotts Mills a famous place and where the people are very loyal.

 

"6 A.M. Thursday, At Frederick went in search of a breakfast, and a Union lady invited me in to a grand treat at least it seemed so to me not having had a warm breakfast for several days 'Tis a very pretty city and for a Southern city is remarkably neat in respect to its streets. The people there are warm for the Union. it is really refreshing to see them so enthusiastic over our troops. I presume the recent raid of the Rebels into Maryland and especially the taking of that city heightens the feeling. Their people all turned the cold shoulder upon the traitors shutting of their stores &c But when McClellan entered, there was great rejoicing, the citizens turned out en masse to greet their deliverer. Oh! war has made sad havoc wherever it's track has been. Here are fine farms completely demolished, cattle driven off and slaughtered and, / (chickens are cabbaged)—

 

            Left Frederick City Friday, the boys singing "Dixies Land" & "We Are Going Home" Came out to Sandy Hook where we stopped three days Get your map and find the Baltimore & Ohio R.R. follow up from Frederick towards Harpers Ferry until you come to S.H. and you can see our exact locality. Harpers Ferry is only a mile from Sandy Hook. S.H. is the meanest place I ever was in Dayton Depot not excepted, nothing but a few old dilapidated houses & a hotel unworthy the name it bears. The Potomac is within a stones throw of the place furnishing a fine place for bathing purposes. Visited Harpers Ferry and Maryland Heights, so recently given up to the Rebs. the former looks very much as the pictures of it appear, though the place is nearly torn to pieces. All the Government buildings have been destroyed Arsenal, Depot &c and nothing but the smoldering walls remain The beautiful bridge over the Potomac here was entirely burned by the Rebs about three weeks ago but is fast being rebuilt. There was certainly great treachery when those heights were given up (Maryland Heights) for with the cannon we had planted there no force in America could have taken it by storm. The mountain is a thousand feet high, sides almost perpendicular We had cannon pointing directly down of the best kind and calibre—47 of our best pieces were there 34 of which were captured, the others / being very large, also were spiked. All the old residents about Sandy Hook say Gen. Miles was a traitor, and even conferred with Gen. Jackson before the fight. Of course opinions differ in respect to where the blame belongs. However Miles is dead and let him rest—

 

Came here yesterday marching up the worst hills I ever saw to Pleasant Valley, and really it deserves the name. We are surrounded on all sides by mountains, Maryland Heights on one side the highest of all, Loudon on another & Bolivar on the other. Our men are fortifying Loudon and Bolivar very strong so I hardly think the Rebs will take them again. Gen Burnsides Division has been up above us—fought in the battles of Antietam and South Mountain they arrived here today tattered and war-worn. The Michigan 17^th & 8^th are encamped only twenty rods from us. A Brigade consisting of 4 Regiments encamped right beside our Regiment, does not occupy so much room and in fact is not numerically as large as our one Regiment, their numbers have been so reduced by disease and those fallen in battle. The Michigan 8^th is a brave Regiment and are not in the least afraid to face the foe.

 

The N.H. 6^th is here also, are now reduced to 250 men also the 9^th 10^th are here making four N.H. Regts. here together. Just recd a long letter from home, with an acc't of your marriage. Oh Mae I can't seem to believe it is so. May the blessings of Heaven attend you dear Sister. Reading an acct of the "performance" almost made me wish I could have been there to witness. But sometime this war will end and if I am spared, hope to take tea with Mrs Howard. Love to all at Mrs. Howards Edwin especially, and Lydia—Good Bye, Do write often—Oh how I love to get letters.

                                   

From your Affectionate Brother

Charlie

                                   

 

Address as before      

(Lieut J. C. Currier Co I.)

(11. N.H.V. Col H. Washington)

 

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