[upside down: Sunday]

Camp near Downstown Sept 14^th

 

                        I thought I would spend a few moments this morning in writing a few lines to you in answer to your letter which I received the 1^st of Sept was very happy indeed to hear from the friends in Norwich as well as from your folks was happy to hear that they                    

 

excuse mistakes please and you will much oblige Hod

                    

were all well I wrotte to you before I received your letter I suppose you have received it before this I have also written to Lyd and Cass but Perry stated in his letter that Wallace received last evening that your folks had not received any letters from me well I dont know who is to blame if you do not receive them I cannot have the priviledge of carrying a letter to its place of destination I really wished I could and not interfere with my duty here I understand that Lyd says that if she could see me she would schold at me I really wish I could see her a few moments I would like to hear her schold it would do me no harm whatever I have got used to that here we are at present camped about 2 miles from Downstown in a beautiful grove of low pines & it is very pleasant indeed to sit beneath their shade and write to our friends at home but we dont know when we shall leave but presume we shall in a day or so as a number of Regiments from here have gone I believe to / the Chain bridge that crosses the Potomac there has been no fighting very near here as I have heard of no nearer than a few miles from the chain bridge in Virginia you of course have heard all about that long before this time I understand there is many reports reaches McKean about the buctails being killed and taken prisoners but you need not fear I can tell you the buctails are capable and will take care of themselves there seems to be quite an anxiety among the friends in Norwich to know how we fare I speak for myself only and I think that is the case with us all we fare as well as we deserve although there is many here that finds fault and murmurs at their lot it seems as though their only object was to eat and drink and pass away the time but I came here for a far different purpose than that that is the least of my trouble I can tell you I am well also the rest of the boys with the exception of Alpha and Charles Dickeson and Anson they expect to start for home in a few days but I must close Charlie and Wallace have been writing home Charlie has gone to the creek to do some washing but I must close so good by for the present give my love to all an accept the best wishes of                               

Horace G Babcock

 

[top margin upside down]

 

you must all be sure and write as often as you can

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