Rec^d on the 7^th Octr

 

Harpers Ferry Sept. 29^th 1862

 

Dear Marshall

                        After the battle of the 17^th our Division came here via Sandy-Hook a small place just below and on the other side of the Potomac we came along the top of Maryland Hights and had a fine view of the engagement at Shepardstown 10 miles up the P. between our advance and the rear of the retreating rebs. I saw the graves of about 20 rebels on top of the mountain. When they drove our force out of their breastworks some of the Union dead were thrown into the clefts of the rocks and left there with a few blankets and some brush thrown over them the 5^th was the first Union soldiers to cross the P. at Harpers Ferry since the retreat of Stonewall. the little town was quiet and desolate looking. the few inhabitants that remained (mostly women) welcomed us joyfully. We marched out on the Charlestown Pike to Bolivar Hights a few cavalry pickets who had watched us crossing retired on our approach and kept at a respectful distance we occupied the hights during the night after sending out a few pickets. we found 3 caissons full of ammunition 1 10 pdr rifled gun and any quantity of camp equipage which the secesh had been in to great a hurry to take with them / we rigged up the gun on a pair of wheels and placed her in position to command the road. After this we did not see the cavalry. I suppose they thought the gun was one which we had brought over in the night and didnt like to stay within short range. she looked savage enough to scare anyone, but she would have dismounted the first shot On the morning of the next day Sumners Corps came over and encamped on the hights and are there now. Our division then crossed the Shenandoah and camped on Loudon Hights which we still occupy the other division of our corps are camped on Maryland Hights. We are in a very elevated position our camp commands a view of the beautiful scenery surrounding us as far as the eye can reach. it would do very well if we did not have so far to come after water. it takes half an hour brisk walking to go from the river to the top. After much labor we succeeded in getting 4 boat howitzers up the mountain and broke two of them in doing it. I was told that Williams is remounting the siege pieces on Maryland Hights again the smoke of the two Armies can be seen up along the river no fighting that I can hear of a few guns were fired to day but in the direction of Charlestown. I guess it dont amount to much. Geary who commanded our Brigade and was wounded at Cedar M^t is here with his arm in a sling I hear that he takes command / of this Post I hope he will retain his old Brigade. Little Mac was here day before yesterday on a flying visit the railroad is in order as far as this the bridge will be soon complete again. A pontoon bridge now crosses the Potomac to Harpers Ferry and another across the Shenandoah. the towns folk that were scared away on the coming of the rebs are all back again and the streets again present their usual appearance. If I had time I could tell you a long story of our goings on since we left Culpeper, about marching and fighting along the Rappahannock, and about our chasing and being chased from there up to the Potomac very interesting I assure you to those who were in the rear like we were at the time. Our Division was not engaged at the battles near Manassas but we were within sight and sound of it all the time and expecting to have a hand in at any moment, which is worse by far than fighting itself. When Pope fell back to Centerville our Corps was at Bristoe Station on the R.R. 4 miles south of the Junction guarding R.R. & Gov goods which were left there on acct of the bridges being burnt between there and Washington. we had to destroy about 4 trains of loaded cars with their locomotives. before applying the torch we sailed into the stores and helped ourselves to anything we took a fancy to. we got as much new clothes as we could carry. a few kegs of eye opener were found in the Medical Department, and not withstanding the strong aversion of the soldiers to medicine they all seemed eager to take a dose out of the keg / I saw a large number of blouses made by Jos Lee New York no doubt the same jovial old Irish Gentleman with whom I have had the pleasure of drinking more than one glass of whiskey punch with. Joe dont make his blouses as strong as he makes his punch, and theres not near the same warmth in them, but I needn't grumble when mine cost me nothing. If you are acquainted with his honor just give him my respects and tell him that I am wearing one of his blouses (big enough for himself) for old acquaintance sake. After leaving Bristoe we passed around to the right of Manassas. we made our exit from the station in a grand Tableau as the theater men say. the trains loaded with ammunition kept up the greatest flashing banging and sputtering that was ever heard of. I'll bet nary one came near the cars to pick up anything untill the shells had done bursting. Bristoe Station is the place where the secesh got in the rear of Hooker and he turned round and cleared them out the day before we got there. the N.Y. Excelsior Brigade was the one that did it. After passing the Junction we crossed Bull Run, then around by Centerville, Fairfax then off to the east again and finally reached the Potomac 12 miles below Alexandria. Our Brigade was separated from the Division after crossing Bull Run. During the fight in which Kearney was killed we were within musket shot all the time and all night after it. I can tell you there was none of us sorry to see the Potomac again. On the retreat I reced Davids letter which I have not had time to answer yet but will do so as soon as I can. I wonder how that box is getting along. if it fared as hard as I did in the skedaddle there isn't much of it together by this time unless it was a tough one. however I thank you for your kindness just as much as though I had got it

 

I am writing this in the old arsenal or a part of it rather night is coming on and I have got to up the mountain yet

 

excuse mistakes, &c, my respects to all, write soon  Yours  James Clarke

 

[inside side margin]

 

Sept 30^th days are so short among these mountains that it takes two whole ones for a lazey soger to write a letter in.

SOURCES