Pleasant Valley Md Oct 26 1862

           

Dear Mother

            I received Martha's kind letter dated the 19^th yesterday and was very glad to hear from home and that you were all enjoying good health I am pretty well with the exception of a bad cold in my head but is some better to day I wrote Martha last friday I received four papers from home last wednesday I have not received any since This a very stormy day I was on guard last night. We received orders yesterday to be ready to march at any time and it is reported we are to march to day We are ordered to take two days rations the cooks are cooking it now / We received twenty days rounds additional to day which with the forty we already have makes us sixty rounds of catridges Gen Burnside was in camp to day he is a fine appearing man He was unattended and plainly dressed with no stripes on his shoulders We have had fine weather for the past week but to day it is raining hard we shall probably move before to morrow night We shall probably move through Harpers Ferry and Charlestown to Winchester I would like to be at home this winter and help you dispose of John's apples and cider but I see no signs of getting home before next spring or summer but I will now write Charley a few lines My love to all give my respects to Uncle Charles family and tell them to write. You / must write often from your affectionate son                                                                                                   

William

           

Pleasant Valley Md Oct 26/62

Dear Brother Charles

                        As I have not written you for some time I now take this oppurtunity to write you a few lines I suppose you are still at work in the Mill how are things progressing at home the mill I suppose you are having pretty cold weather we have two or three pretty severe frosts here M Niggers and Mules are plenty here as a great many of the army teams are driven by these contrabands When I see a pretty smart horse I frequently see a darkey straddle of him but I do not think of much more to write at present. When I come across any thing worth sending home I will endeavor / to send it I think likely that when I get into the regiment again I will find some seeds that I can send in a letter chestnuts and butternuts are pretty plenty on the mountains opposite I think we are so far off that it is some work to get them. You hear more war news than I do pretty likely but I must close as my sheet is nearly full write often from your affectionate brother William

                       

P.S.

Dear Albert

            Well Albert how do you get along I suppose you keep pretty busy taking care of the cow and bossie and helping Mother and attending school you must learn to write as soon as you can and write me but I must close from your brother William

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