Lancaster, Ky May 22/63

           

Dear Sister

                        I will now sit down and pen you a few lines. I am well and hope these few lines will find you the same. I wrote last saturday which you have received ere this, I trust. I wrote that I found the boys well. "Uncle Ben" Stevens is waiter to Lieut Heath and Clark. Alex Hutchinson was in the Co when I came but has gone to cooking for the Brigade. Gill is fat and rugged Charley Johnson is well. The weather is quite hot and sultry but I "reckon" it will not be any warmer than in Virginia. The reg't has been here most two weeks they came here ten days before I came. Our Co did not come on from Newport News with the rest of the reg't it was detailed to come with the teams it was not with the reg't at Mount Sterling. We do not have any guard around camp excepting on the Commissaries but have pickets throughout. We pay three cts a lb for flour. Eggs 25 cts though. I reckon they could be bought for 10 cts before we came. Milk is 10 cts a qt. / The people around send in their slaves with biscuit cake pies &c There was one slave came into our camp yesterday who ran away from his master the night before. He represented him as being hard with him, whipping him for resting in the field. The slaves have saturday nights and sundays to themselves Every day clothes the Master furnishes but their sunday clothes the slaves furnish. Our Co have bought a yoke of oxen and cart for $100. to carry our knapsacks on the march we put in $1.00 apiece and we had $29. in the treasury I had $1.00 in the treasury which I let go towards the team. We pasture them near camp in the field it is excellent feed. We get butternuts and black walnuts in the woods. I have not received any letter yet from home since I left Baltimore. The health of the reg't I think is better at the present time than at any time. This country does does not look much like "Old Virginia" 'tis not so completely "played out". I suppose Charley is still at Mrs Smith's I should think he would get tired of the working in such a hole as the Mill /

 

I would like to have you see this place out this way to see the large apple and peach orchards and the beautifull fields. Wont you send me out something to read? I dont care much what it is, "Journall", "Welcome Guest", or some such papers. Ed Emerson has the Waverly Magazine sent to him. There has been quite a number gone home on furloughs from this reg't for 15 days. It is hardly worth while to go for so short a time when one has to pay his fare unless he has special business. Our Brigade Band is with us. It is quite enlivening to listen to the strains of music. The citizens Soldiers and niggers are out to see us on dress parade and to listen to the band. I will put in a rose in this letter. I have not much news to write so I will close for the present. I will wait, I reckon, to see if I get a letter to night. You must write often and all the news you can. I presume Mother has got her picture taken by this time. Our Chaplain has resigned we have none now, though we have meetings three or four times a week at night. My love to all / the folks from your affect                                                                         Brother William

 

PS    May 23                       

            We are off in the direction of Somerset

            William

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