Nov 7/62

White Plains Va.

 

Dear Wife

                        I seize the first opportunity I have had since leaving Washington to write to you. You will doubtless be surprised to find we have moved from there and joined our Regiment. We received orders on Friday last (just one week ago) to move and have that time to this. I had no chance to inform you of our departure. What I have seen and passed through I must reserve the story until I have better arrangements. We went to Frederick Md first, then to Berlin 4 miles below Harpers / Ferry where we crossed the Potomac and from Monday until to day we have been hunting our Regiment. We had but 2 days rations of hard biscuit with us, which gave out on Tuesday and since then we have been living on whatever we could pick up or forage on the road. I will have quite a story to tell when I can get some paper & pen & ink. We came up with our Regiment to day in the midst of a driving snow storm & to night we are almost frozen. We have nothing but one small shelter tent for us 3 Officers. We are in Pratts Brigade, Smith's / Corps Division Franklins Division Corps and are entirely surrounded by camps as far as one can see. Such immense numbers of troops I have never before seen. The enemy are not very far from us. On Wednesday we passed through a place called Union where there had been skirmishing on Sunday. We have slept out in the open air 4 nights. We do not fancy it much, but as we are marching for Richmond it does not matter. We will soon be in the valley and then it will be warmer. Our inspection passed off merrily enough and Colonel Ramsay complimented us highly. He was very sorry to part with us Do not forget to write immediately upon receipt of this for I am almost wild to hear from you. We expect the Paymaster around every day. Kiss the little ones over & over again for me & give love to all. We expect to advance again to-morrow. I have borrowed this sheet & pencil from one of the men. You must excuse the appearance as my fingers are almost frozen. Why we are in this fix I will explain in my next. Direct 119^th Regiment Penna Vols—Smiths Division Franklin's Corps via Washington

 

My dear wife, do not forget yourself now I am in the field but think often of your

devoted husband

 Andy

 

November 7^th/672                                          

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