Oct the 21 1862

 

Williams Port

My Dearest Wife I supose you think I have deserted you but it is not the case I received your kind letter but we were under marching orders and I did not want to rite until we got to the end of our march We have marched thirty miles in a little over two days we are now at Williamsport on the potomic river we expect to stay here for some time I am well at present and I hope these few lines will find you and the little ones the same we have just got to our journeys end and I set down to rite to you My Dear we marched over / the great Batle ground and I have seen some of the efects of fighting the fences and trees are tore to pieces by shot and shell houses and and bridges burned down and it stinks all around But we have pased that now and we are in a better place although the rebel pickets are about tow miles from us there is no danger thare is not many of them But thare is severl thousand of us you will be suprised to here that our Bill was taken prisner at Fredrick him and severl others from Elkton started for the reble army and got to Fredrick while the rebels were thare and were taken prisners with a lot of rebels he only left / thare a fe days ago he tok the oath of alegience But I never will own him for a Brother any more Mr Pierce down the night before we left Fredrick and he brought us as much cake and dried beef as he coud carry and I got a good share it was buly to march on as we had to cary three days cocked rations you need not be afraid of me geting in to a batle soon as we are only to gaurd around here you say that you cant get the bounty without a good bit of trouble you have done right by giving it up you wonder how I slep at night I slep very wel but I coud slep beter if you were with me of course I must bring this to a close / to a close I will tel you more the next time I rite inclosed you will find a buton that I cut of a ded rebels shirt it is the only thing I can send you at present I have not got but one leter from Wash yet I send you the last one I got from John I am not more than eightteen miles from ware John is I am higher up the river

                                                                                                           

rite soon my Dear

give my love to all

 

Directions

Mr James F Stepter

sixth Regiment maryland Vol

in care of capt Hill Co B

Williams Port MD

 

No more at present from your loving husband Jas F Stepter

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