Baltimore August 18^th 1862

 

Dear Ham:

                        I write you only a few lines at present in answer to a letter from you just received by Mother. You say in it that you have not heard whether she received your letter and $30. She did receive it and the money all safe. She had also answered it. I wrote a letter to you from Waynesboro in which I told you of my doings there, making war speeches &c. but I suppose it failed to reach you. We received news in Waynesboro of the battle of Cedar Mt. or Slaughter Mt. on Monday evening 11^th inst. and seeing that Genl. Augur had been wounded I thought your regiment must have been in the battle. So I hastened home on Tuesday in case you had been hurt for Mother and Charley were home alone. I then learned that the Purnell Legion were detailed to another place and had not been engaged in the battle.

 

            Bank's Division acted nobly. It is here acknowledged by all that Stonewall Jackson has suffered a defeat and the Army of Virginia / won a glorious victory.

Mother and Charley are well and in good spirits. the other girls are doing finely up in the country. Johnny & Fidy and Aggie are all well and so am I.

 

            Baltimore is rapidly raising 4 regiments for the war—4^th, 6^th, 7^th & 8^th.

 

            Troops from the north are beginning to pour into the city. If the rebels don't strike now their time is past forever, but this is not a regular letter only a note to satisfy you about our health and the $30. I shall write again before long.

 

            Mother & Charley send their love and charge you to be careful of your health.

 

            Give my respects to Capt. Gibson and other friends—

                                                                                               

Yours Fraternally

Geo. S. Grape

 

N.B. I am hastening to get this in the mail at

Medinger's box which leaves at 3 P.M.

SOURCES