Head Qrs 1^st Prov. Div.          

Shenandoah Valley Va

March 28. /65.

           

Dear Sister.

                Your last letter came to hand last Saturday night and was received with the greatest pleasure. Isabel's has not been seen in this part of the world yet. What do you suppose has become of it? Think some French gentleman has had the pleasure of reading it? Maybe the one that got it will be for opening a correspondence with Miss Isabel some of these fine days. How would she like an Army correspondent other than Cook?

 

[margin: Mrs John Cook I mean]

 

Well! I still stay here at Mr Hobart's and have very pleasant times. about every other day I go to Harper's Ferry which takes up the most of the day / I like running about occasionally rather better than staying around the house all the time. I wish you could see the place called Harpers Ferry it is the most sunken looking place that ever was. The Blue Ridge where the river runs through looks as if they had been burst in two parts, leaving a place just wide enough to let the river pass, with a very little dry ground on each side where they have stuck the village. The first time I went there both rivers (the Potomac and Shenandoah) were very high and half the houses were under water. nearly all the buildings upon the lower side of the main street could be got into only by the use of boats, and the streets that pretended to be dry could have been navigated by boats to full as good advantage as by any other mode. Now that the river has gone down the streets are comparatively dry and quite easily navigated. 

 

            The first Veteran Reg^t has come home again, arrived here last Saturday night all safe with the exception of one man who got run over by the 12. Penn Cavalry and had an arm broken. The fruits of the expedition are briefly summed up upon the side of this reg^t no casualties. the cavalry lost twenty or thirty. the rebels had a few killed and wounded and a few several prisoners to the number of about two boys.

 

The men like their rifles first rate The Second Veterans came in last Saturday One Thousand strong excepting a few deserters. They went into camp, moved into another yesterday, and this morning the first reg^t moved their camp upon a line of theirs I met a man today in it that used to be in Co "I." 2^nd R.I.V. name Albert Colvin of Olneyville R.I. a first rate good fellow. he used to cook for us the last two years in service. 

 

Well its half past ten oclock and my letter is not written yet. the folks are carrying on so that I cant write at all. How in the world did Uncle Sam come to buy so much land, and more than that to buy it of Mr. Cook. Are they on friendly terms again? or was the trade made in order to prevent troubles in future. Gilbert I should think got his land pretty reasonable. Is he going to keep a cow? and a horse I suppose that will be enough to take care of unless he keeps two horses to draw wood with. You want to know what I have been doing with my money. Why I have been buying peanuts and peppermints what do you think? I have got a little piece of paper with me with a little scribbling on it may be it is not worth so much as it was before it was written on. Aint this a great letter to send I am almost a good mind not to send it. I have been over two hours about it and I think I will stop. the folks have just gone to bed so that if my letter was to write over again I might do better Going to the Ferry tomorrow Give my respects to Cooks folks

 

[inner side and top margins]

 

Ootstebootstetookenyhookste

 

Young Hobart is away yet. I almost believe he is a rebel and an active one too.

 

[front top margin upside down]

 

Gen Love moved from here yesterday

Gen Brooke and staff still remain.

Lowell C. Cook, Acting Assistant Orderly Dog Robber Gen Brooke's Staff

 

[front side margin]

 

Had greens for dinner

carrots and potatoes

beef steak and fried [?]

            Good night

SOURCES