My Dear Wife—Hattie

                                                                                   

Here we are again in the State of M^d after another day sever march—about two miles north east from Hagerstown and there is a report in camp that this is to be our winter quarters. We left the "Last Place" near Sharpsburgh on Sat morning at 2 ocl AM and came through the rain and mud

 

We are situated in a nice woods of very heavy timber and no underbrush This country has more the appearance of York State than any other I have seen in the state This whole country has suffered very much from drouth. Butter is worth from 25^c to 30^c#— Potatoes  8 to 12/bush. every thing is very high in this part of the state but not more than half as high as in the / lower part of the state. Hagerstown is about the size of Saratoga Springs situated about 6 miles from the Po river, and the Rebs recruited about 200 men in their last raid some two weeks ago, but we hear that the most of the men deserted soon after. There is no telling how long we will remain here I think not long however. We left some six of our men in Hospital near our last stoping place, but think none of them dangerously ill. Washington N Wood & Volney Crane deserted us at Alexandria Va. We are expecting Co^l (Maj) French—Osborn & others every day. The Reg^t is suffering very much for want of Regimental & Field Officers. We have with us no Col no Lieut Col—no Maj—no Adj—no Quartermaster—but one assistant Surg (our Surgeon home of on furlough) no Chaplin / The old troops of this Reg' are in a suffering condition for want of clothing blankets &c. They are very dirty and lousey as a general thing. our new men have no tents or arms or equipments. We are now using for ourselves—Rockwell—Furman—Rich—Oakley—Doolittle & Clark—a fly tent for a sleeping-cooking provision or commisary tent. Soldiers more than any other association of men are more dependent upon heads or leaders than any other. We have enough to eat—such as it is, but no stew pans or camp kettles to cook it. I have paid out some five dollars from my own pocket for cooking & tent fixtures & we have not enough yet. No man can have any just idea of a soldiers life & sufferings until he becomes a Soldier. Mr Carpenter & Ge^o R Smith are cooking for the Company /

 

I enclose the paper to Father & have answered the Bridgeport letter.

 

            Why does not Mat board with you until she leaves? are you getting so saving as not to give her enough to eat or cant you get enough to live on? You did not say any thing about the boys in your letter, which by the way came to hand yesterday and was a very welcome letter to me.

 

            Most of our mess have been sick since we left home. I have been a little dispeptic a few times since we left Albany, otherwise have been well. In this camp we have been able to get a little straw to sleep on for the first. There are many things I would like to write to write but cannot find time. I have not writen a letter to no one but you since I left. I want you to be particular in writing all the news of the house & tell me when you want the coal drawn and all the news of the City I saw Ike Rosekrans in Alexandria as we were leaving there. his commander is located there now.

 

Mr Hunts people treated me very kindly There are very many things I want to write but cannot find time to write more now. write very often. tell me how you like my picture. how Mrs Smith girl gets along

 

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we draw no soft bread now but when in quarters or near Washington draw twice per week

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