Brookville Md Sept 14 1862

 

Dear folks at home

 

As to-day is sunday I will write a few lines to let you know how we get along. I do not know whether you got my last letter or not as there is a rumor that it was lost in going to Washington. We were then encamped at Leesboro. Last friday morning we broke up our camp there and came to this place. It made us a march of about ten or twelve miles. We are now about 22 miles from Washington and 28 from Baltimore. The country about here is splendid much better than it is between here and Washington. From the time that we landed at Alexandria till we arrived at Leesboro the boys seemed to think that if that was a specimen of the southern country it was hardly worth fighting for and to tell the truth it is rather a miserable looking place. But out here it is different. There are large farms the land is good and well cultivated. There is a good deal of wood and timber also. The trees are mostly oak and chestnut pretty much the same as you will find in Massachusetts. The villages are much different though. I have not seen since we left Washington a village that will begin to compare with Stillriver or Boxboro as to the number of  houses. We have passed some half a dozen of what they call villages on the route. They consist merely of three or four houses and one of those will be either a store or a tavern and perhaps closed up at that. I saw one or two meeting houses and one building that I called a school house but I could not tell certain as it was situated a little off the road. I suppose father will interested in knowing the sentiments of the people and the "niggers" are I do not know much about the "white folks" because we do not have a chance to see much of them. Occasionally along the route we would see a union flag and some of the ladies waved their handkerchiefs at us but we did not see any contrary demonstration. The man that owns the farm where we are now invited us to encamp here and furnishes us with wood. Whether he is a real union man or thinks it is good policy for him to do so I do not know. He and another gentleman and four ladies were present at dress parade last night. They had three or four children with them and as might be expected a little "nigger" also. The people allow their negroes to come to the camp with eatables to sell. They bring fruit of all kinds, corn cakes, pies, biscuit milk &c. Fruit bears about the same price it does at home but milk is dear, 12 cts per quart and scarce at that. Potatoes one dollar per bushel /

 

The negroes all seem to understand that the war concerns them. Of course there are a good many abolitionists in the regiment and they do not hesitate to talk with them about slavery. The negroes say there has a good many of them run away within a year. There is an old negro who comes about the camp who says he is free. He bought himself about ten years ago. His wife is now a slave and some of his children. One of his sons ran away last winter and another one sometime within a month. They went to Washington and went to work in the army. He says that one of the negroes of the man who owns our camp ground served him the same way last week. His master sent him down to Washington with a load of produce and he has not come back yet. The old fellow says that "the fust cannon he heerd a year ago he knowd that Mr Linconzis party would gain the day". But perhaps you have heard enough about this and would like to know how we are the boys are all well. We expect to march again from here tomorrow. I do not know where were going. Heavy cannonading has been going on northwest of us all day but it is a good ways off. It begins to seem somewhat like war now our guards have their guns loaded every night. It is not because the enemy are in our immediate vicinity but it is thought well enough to take this precaution. I am well and rather enjoy camp life. I think that so far the climate rather suits me than otherwise. But perhaps it is a little to soon to judge yet I think I should like to live here. Perhaps you would like to know what we have to pay for newspapers. For the Baltimore Clipper a paper that sells for 1 cent in B we have to pay 5 for. If Mr Thompson has not gone to the war please give my best respects to him. Remember me to Georgia and Frank and tell them that I mean to write to them soon.

 

from

Waldo.

 

Direct your letters till further notice to me

Co G 36th regt

Col Heⁿ Bowman

Washington  D. C.

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