Nov 5 1862

out on picket near

Charlestown Virginia

 

Dear Parents

               your letter was duly received on saturday last and I can tell you that it was welcome we are truly in success on Sunday afternoon as I was commencing a letter orders came that we were to go to fight we took no rations nor blankets one of our Company was driven in on picket duty and we went to reinforce them we loaded our rifles and left camp and got there with no food and had to stay till Tuesday without food or sleep in the meanwhile our regiment left camp and started for Richmond as the army is on the move the main army of the rebs are about as near Charlestown on the south and we are on the north we have driven them before us (the 20^th Conn) I mean so far / the rebel pickets if we have to brush with I can assure you with 30,000 three hundred thousand men that moved from or near Harpers Ferry they ought to do something ever since last sunday we have been on picket I have seen rebels they are all rather the worse for wear but all that I have seen look about as well as our soldiers that I have been in the same time I am writing this in the woods by a fire we have to put out all fires in the night loud talking is abolished for the present we have no tea coffee or anything but hard tack

 

the 6^th on picket

Dear Mother

                      the report is that McLellen has got around the rebs and are driving them this way we have got to stop them from coming across the Shenandoah it is / very cold here and it seems as if we should freeze nothing but picket duty for over a week I am most tired out all rebs out this way in the rebel army and a good many spies too I must close as Jerry has just finished his we may get paid some about the 16^th I will try if we do to send some home I have got a letter from Francis but cant answer it just yet as postage stamps and post is too far off I got one from Minnie and Magie Allisson as soon as I get where I can I will answer them you can write dont worry about me for I have friends in some of the Cromwell boys

almost froze I draw to a close

Your Aff Son George /

 

Write soon

           

all well

dont worry

 

dont let Mag know that I told you

           

Remember me to all

           

cant write any more I am sorry for Father but hope he will come out rightside up think he will if Sage dont score him Love to Piggy

Tiny little bossy and all

                                               

yours George

                                   

direct as before

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