Camp Shields, 3½ miles north-east of Winchester, Va.

March 22^nd 1862

 

Dear Brother,

                        Sir, yours of the 7^th of this month came to hand a few days since, and I will now make an effort to write you a few lines in answer to it. And in the first place I can inform you that I am enjoying very good health at this time, and I hope that this letter may find you and the rest of the connection in good health. I would like very much to be at home and spend a few days with you in the Sugar-Camp. I think perhaps that I could devour a spoonful or two of wax anyhow.

 

            Our regiment just returned night before last from a long and weary march of three days. We left this camp last tuesday morning a little before daylight. We were all anxious for the trip, thinking perhaps that we might stand a chance to see the "enemy". We passed through Winchester about daylight, found it to be a very large and sightly place. we traveled all day late in the evening we saw them at a distance. We fired a few times at them with our cannons but did not accomplish much. We remained that night near Middletown. early next morning we set out again in pursuit of the enemy (for they kept a running away from us as fast as they could) / We run them that day about five miles beyond strawsburg but they kept running and burning every bridge that they crossed. Through a mistake our canoneers fired on our own Cavelry and killed five of our horses, but fortunately did not kill any of our men. We returned that night to Strawsbury and remained there all night and the next day until noon, when we set out for our old camp, distance about twenty two miles. We reached camp a little after dark being almost tired out. When we will move again I know not, but I think perhaps we will move again before long. I must soon close.

 

The country around here is beautiful. The grass and wheat is begining to grow. Frogs is a hollowing and every thing indicates the approach of spring. I am still well satisfied, I feel assured that this present rebellion cannot last much longer. The army appears to be in motion, and I think that ere a few more months rolls round, we will be permitted to return home. I have wrote home a time or two for postage stamps but it appears that I cannot get any. Send me some in your next letter. I owe four or five now that I have borrowed. Capt. Miller is a going home soon provided he can get a furlough. Please write soon. Henry is well. W. H. Speer

 

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It is now commenced raining

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