Tuesday 4 P.M.           Head Qrs 3^d M^d Vols                         

Near Littletown Penna                       

June 30^th 1863  

                                  

Friend Hester

                        Your most welcome letter came safe to hand Sunday the papers also and I was most happy to hear from you. You could not have pleased me better with any other papers than those you sent the Mercury was always my favorite paper when I was home and the Harpers Weekly contained a map of the country we are at present travelling through so you see I had only to refer to the map to know where we are and all about / the country which is no small thing I can assure you I was like you in regard to the letter I had given up all hopes of a letter from you I thought perhaps the letter had gone astray (as they often do) and had made up my mind to write again as soon as we got into camp again. But I see I was mistaken and that it was no fault of yours that the letter did not reach me sooner but never mind better luck next time I hope.

 

I am very sorry to know that you are sometimes attacked with the Blues. I hope they do not trouble you often as it is a disagreeable complaint. 

 

Since my last we have bid adieu to the Sacred soil of Virginia for the present and are now in Pennsylvania. We left Virginia on the 27^th and marched through Maryland into Pennsylvania. There is a vast difference between soldiering in Penna and soldiering in Virginia in the latter state the inhabitants were all your enemies and upon the approach of our Army closed their houses until we passed. In Penna the people think nothing is too good for the soldier as we pass through a town or village the people all turn out (en-masse) to receive us cheering us as we pass the ladies (dear creatures) singing some patriotic song to raise our spirits and cheer us on. While bread and butter, milk, cakes, pies, water and many other delicacies are set out for us it is pleasant soldiering here you may be sure Our Cavalry advance had a skirmish this morning at Hanover Penna our men were driven 7 miles but were reinforced and drove the Rebs back capturing some of the Rebs our loss was 3 wounded and five horses the rebel loss I did not learn. we were / doubled quicked for five miles (which was an awful job this hot weather) and formed in line of battle about 1 mile from Littletown and sent out a large Cavalry force to reconnoitre the enemy. we have been expecting fight all day but have not as yet

 

It has rained every day since we began this march which has made the roads very muddy and very hard marching

 

The whole Army of the Potomac are after the Rebs look out for good news from this Army soon We will run the Rebs out of Penna. and Maryland a great deal quicker than they came into it we have a great advantage in being in one of our own States. Our boys are in high spirits and eager for the coming battle and all are sure of victory If we give the Rebs a sound thrashing here and follow them up and Grant captures Vicksburg it will be the death blow to the Rebs and will do a great deal towards terminating this War and I hope we will 

 

So you was to our house to dinner and eat soup with my spoon and it tasted very good. well the next time please eat a little for me and I will do as much for you some time. The next time you go to church dont forget to say a good word for the poor soldier fighting for the Union

 

Do not fear that I would get be offended at you for sending the papers or think you are making free. On the contrary you could not have pleased me better than by sending those papers. As for you making free such a thought never entered my mind. it's true we are not as yet very well acquainted but I hope we will soon be better acquainted.

 

I am sorry to hear that Mother worries so much about me I think from what I hear that she worries to much for her own good.

 

Now as I have given you all the news I will bring this long letter to a close, so adieu until I hear from you again

 

I remain as ever          Yours truly      Bob /

 

P.S.

            This was written during a halt so you must excuse all blots and mistakes paper is scarce also which accounts for the torn sheet. I am ignorant yet about 35^th St

R.S.S.

           

Address as before

 

Enclosed you will find a genuine Rebel shinplaster that I got from a Rebel prisoner at Frederick City Md which I send you as a curiosity not knowing whether you ever saw one

            Bob

SOURCES