Lexington        July 19^th 1863.

 

Dear Brother,

Yours of the 5^th was duly received and I now take my pen to inform you that I am well and also the boys generally in our Co. and to give you a brief account of what has transpired since I wrote you before.

We left Mt. Sterling Sunday at midnight July 5^th and made a forced march to this place a distance of 33. miles. we reached here the next night at midnight, tired,/weary and pretty much demoralized. Morgan was then threatening to come this way which was the reason of our being ordered here in so short a time I dont think we were in a condition to do much fighting that night—Morgan thought it best to try his luck in Indiania and I guess he will get all he bargained for before he gets back, some of his men have been brought here prisoners on the cars.

 

We expected to go back to Mt Sterling for some days after we got here so we did not pitch our camp very well, but last Thursday we moved to the convales/cent ground where we pitched our camp in regular order. it is near the Cemetery in which is the monument to the memory of Henry Clay the Ky “Orator and Statsman it is a splendid thing. upon the top is a statue of him in the attitude of a speaker.

 

We have a camp guard, but do no picket duty. we expected to see severe duty when we left Mt Sterling. We are to be filled up with conscripts from Mass. I presume some of you Hardwick fellows will be coming out here before long. we have been reminded by Col Hawks that we must do our guard duty right for we were to be filled up soon.

 

We were paid for May & June last week I shall send home $20. soon (within a day or two)

 

I enclose a photograph of George which he give me to send home. Eudora is going to Portland Me with another young lady to open a school of design the 1^st of Aug^st. I want you should be a little more prompt in answering my letters. it was nearly a month since you wrote before. you say there is not much to write write something about your business if you have no news, but I must close.

 

give my Love to inquiring friends. We are now waiting for the Corps we do not know how long we shall remain here.

 

Write soon

                                    from your brother,

                                                M.A. Emmons.

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