Camp near Aquia Creek Va.

 

My Dear Hattie

            We left our old camp where we remained all of last week & from whence I wrote to you last on last sunday morn' & marched three successive days & about 15 miles (York state miles) each day. We arrived here yesterday about mid day & will most likely remain all day The weather has been lowery but no rain until to day to make the roads bad or unpleasant to be out. Tis said we are within one days march of Fredrickburgh & that this Corps is to form the left wing of the Army for Richmond No person can form any true conception of an Army of some 25000 men & the attendant appendances & time required to move them from day to day. The most / of our sick have been sent Washington Hospital—by names of A B Clark—Doolittle Joseph Green—Ge^o Hammond & Haight.—

 

            Well, on our last marches I have been obliged to ride on the Dr horse & in the ambulances a part of the time. My back & legs would give out every time & I have got my resignation writen & nearly ready to send in. Our commissions have not been sent to us, but Lovelands & Beldings commissions have come on & are dated back of ours but they did not enlist until we had our Company raised. L & B are from Saratoga Springs. I have been questioning how I could resign a position I have rec^d no commission for. Now as regards C. Osborn & his tricks Dear Hattie, you may have no fears for me. I could not consent to enter into a wrong act with him or any one else to defraud my men & I told Cap Rockwell just what to depend / upon if he left him to settle our accs & it has turned out just as I told him You know I wanted he should consent to let me remain for the settlement of the business, but no. he (O) would do it right & would not dare to do other wise. So I told Rockwell I would not let him have my acc for rations to settle for I had no faith in him & sent my bill to Maj French but I did get it allowed & consider it lost & given it up—to the amt of $17⁰⁰ but will apply the ten dollars Osborn paid you. I think there is some truth in the reports at home about keeping me ignrant of an agreement to pay over the balance to R &c. & have thot so for weeks past.—Lieut Fursman is some better but not well enough to march, yet he thinks he would try it to day if we were to go. If Osborn comes back to Reg he will find a place in the ranks where he will be reduced at once / My chance of getting into the Ambulance Corps is hopeful yet but the hope is very faint. We have no means of sending letters from camp now as our Regimental P. Master will not rec^d any mail when we are on the move but this I am going to send by our sutler if can get it ready in time he is going to Washington for goods. I cannot stop to tell you any thing about our experiences this time. I have bot some flour &c & this morning we had some pan cakes for the first & the first of any bread kind since we came into the state except Army bread. Our men are all quite well now Mr Carpenter, Al Clements & Manfred H. & quite smart. If my resignation goes through it will be some two or three weeks before I get home. Think I shall bring home some our bread kind  & let you look at & taste, yes and eat of our "pies"

 

            Think we he will leave from here tomorrow & think we are going to Fredricksburgh. I must close so good by for the present. I will write you again soon. Get coarse very coarse coal for the parlor stove.           

 

Very Yours very truly            Cyrus

 

Nov 19^th 1862 Wednesday

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