Camp near Sharpsburg          

Oct. 10, 1862

 

Mr Creveling, I rec^d your kind letter of the 1^st on the 9^th. pleased to hear from you once more. also that you are well. I am well. I feel sorry that you did not come to see me when you was so close. the Penn R.S.V. Corps is not more than one half mile from where we lay when you was there. I was over and they informed me that you had been there, and you had left for the Ferry. you mentioned in your letter concerning Brocking we heard from him, I am glad that he is released. he is a good soldier and a gentleman. as for my escape on the field is truly a wonder, on that memorable 17^th the chances / for escape was few, in the position that we occupied. you spoke of the corn field, that is the place where we worked our battery for four long hours and the place is marked with piles of our dead horses, of men, the Battle will long be remembered by those who participated in it.

 

            I must tell you a little about the Militia. the citizens of Md. say that the Militia done them more harm than the whole Union Army has since the war began. But you must not think that I wish to slur you, because you came with them. the Baltimore paper says that when the 2^d Regt was ordered forward at Williamsport the mortality became so great that when they arrived there / and stacked arms, only 200 muskets out of 780 could be found. I suppose had they crossed the Potomac, they would have all been lost. But I cannot blame them as they did not enlist to leave the State they could not be expected to go as men who enlisted for the war.

 

            You hope that the war will soon be over. I hope so to, but I fear the time will be long until you can see us home and the war settled. you should have enlisted for the war at least some of the [?] you mentioned that came to defend the border we need men to man our Battery. we have only enough left to man two guns, out of six, and the men must be had, and the old Companies filled out soon / for I fear that we are trifling to much time away, until it will be to late, and the Union not preserved.

 

            I thank you for sending me the stamps, for they come good when pay day is so long coming. give my best respects to your Family and all the rest of your friends and mine and write soon and tell me all the good news,

                                                                                   

from your Friend

W H Trump

 

I lost that pretty little book you sent me and my knapsack and all my clothing at the Battle of Bull Run.

           

What price can you send me a good pair of boots, calf

double soles & lined

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