Camp at Leesburg Va.                       

Monday June 22^ond 1863

           

Dear Parients

                  You will be surprised to hear from me here when I promised to write you when we got marching orders. But we were on the march before we knew it. We had orders to join our Regiment Saturday the 18^th we found the Reg in the road ready to march for Dumfries this was about sundown. We marched all night and part of the next day. got to Dumfries at 9^oclock the next morning completely tired out. We lay there and rested the rest of that day Sunday 14^th Monday the 15^th we started at three oclock the next morning went four miles and halted for breakfast. After a short rest we took up our line of march for Fairfax. Crossed Tibbals farm / again the house has been burned since we were there last winter We stoped at Occoquan Creek for dinner and after a short rest pushed on for Fairfax. The day was the hottest of the season and the roads very dusty. We suffered terribly from thirst. Our Division General Williams kept us going all the while. Many poor fellows droped dead by the roadside from heat and exaustion. Many were sunstruck. We got to Fairfax about dark after a hard days march of 28 miles. Remember we all carried a heavy knapsack besides equipments. We staid in Fairfax all the next day for we were so tired we could not march farther. We started again Wednesday morning at three oclock. Very hot and dusty marched about 12 miles and halted at noon near Drainsville where we / stayed all day and night. Here I was detailed as one of the Corpl's of the picket so we (the picket guard) marched about three miles farther and established a line. By this time I was about played out. Coffee and hard tack is poor stuff to march on. I went to a farm house near by and bought a canteen full of new fresh milk and some warm buiscit and I had a great old breakfast. I was up nearly all night for we were on the outpost of the army and at sunrise the next morning joined my Regt on the road as it came along. Twas very hot and dusty and I was about half sick I marched untill about noon and then fell out and saw the Doct. who marches in the rear of the Regt he gave me a little whiskey which I drank but it did not do much good. finaly he gave me a / pass to ride in the ambulance and I did. But the ambulance did come up within three miles of our Regt. so I had to march that distance through the rain for we had a smart shower in the afternoon. I found the Regt camped near Leesburg where we now are. I slept that night with wet feet and pants. But the next morning I was much better what I wanted was rest it did me more good than whiskey Friday we still remain here. three men were shot for desertion but I will tell you about that in my next Saturday went on picket came off last night and got the mail when we got back

 

But I cannot write more at present I havent time look this over

                                                           

Your Aff son

Henry

 

[margin]

 

I will write again soon for I have not told you half the sufferings of that march

SOURCES