Direct to

Camp of the 14^th N.J. Vols South Mountain, M^d                                          

Frederick County. Monday morning July 6^th 1863     

Washington D.C.

                                              

            Dear Mother, I seat myself this morning to drop you a few lines to assure you that I am in the best of health, never felt better in all my life. when last I wrote you, our Division under Genr^l French were encamped within a mile of Frederick City and here we are at South Mountain, some 16 mile from Frederick But our whole Division is not here only a portion of our Brigade. the 15^th New York has taken their position within about half a mile from us while a part of the 10^th Vermont is about 3 miles to our rear. I commenced writing you this morning but I had but two or three lines written before we, that is our Company were ordered to fall in to guard eleven hundred Rebel prisoners to Frederick. They were brought in our camp last night by our Cavalry they were on their way back to Virginia but I reckon as how they didn't get there. Well Mother I suppose you have heard the good news long before you will receive this missile The Rebel Army that came in Maryland under Lee will soon be played out. We have got the upper hand of them this time, thank the / Lord, and if General Lee takes the half or the quarter of the Army over in Va. again that he brought here with him it will be almost a miracle. They cannot cross the river now, and they are in a trap. it is so reported that have lost some forty thousand men in killed and prisoners. but I was saying the company was ordered to fall in to guard the prisoners to Frederick 13 mile from here, but after marching about 3 mile we were relieved by the Vermont Boys who went on to Frederick with them and we came back to camp. along with the 1100 prisoners our Cavalry captured about 17 ambulances The Boys are well and in jubilant spirits I hope this may find you and John and all enjoying good health. May the Lord grant it. I dont know when this letter will go, but I thought I would write and have it ready when there was a chance to send it. it is a splendid country through here. it is worth $50 to any one to be a soldier. there is a valley each side of the mountain. it is impossible to see the sun up here it is so cloudy while we can see it shining in both valleys

 

but I must close my letter for this time I hope this may find you all as well as it leaves me

 

I dont know when we will get a mail away up here in the mountain ha ha 

 

give my best wishes to all enquiring friends & to your neighbors, may the Lord bless and protect you I remain your loving Son Albert 

 

Sergt A C Harrison

            Co G. 14^th N.J.V.

Washington D.C.

or elsewhere

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excuse me for not sending stamps & it is impossible to get any in this part of the country

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