Direct your leters to Washington

                                                                        DC. 20th Regt Co E

20 Maine)                                                       Washington Sep 7th 62

                                   

                                                                        Dear Mother

                                                                        I Have now arived at washington w alive and well we arived here this morning at 9 O We arived on the furst Dixey ground yesterday at night on my Burth day we Stoped in Elexaddry last night and was glad for the Chance to lay on the wharf being on bord of the Ship 5 days and 4 nights I supose you received a leter that I rote abord the boat We was Crouded Enough a we did not/

 

[margin]          tell all hands to write

 

have to warm our water any before we drank it there is any qunity of Solders around here in Sight we are in Sight of the Capitol we are on with in a quarter of a mile of it we camp out dor on the ground to night the Sun is going down now there has ben a lot of solders gon out to meet the Enemy there is bad news here now I cant write any more to night but will write soon I have got to go on gard to night at 9 O Clock I want to go to sleep now Write as soon as you get this With out Fale            A. E. Titus

 

[fragment on separate sheet]

            fought desperately (with a few exceptions) and endured all that could be asked of Soldiers, and more than should be—would be doing them only simple justice—How they were defeated is evident to all, as they fought an enemy vastly superior in numbers, in a chosen position behind fortifications. While our men were marched up as though they were on a grand review, rather than in line of battle, as I believe is generally customary in such cases.

 

            Some one was saying the other day that they now had found out the original intentions of this expedition—perhaps what has taken place is a part of the programme—But I did not propose to write a history of this county, or an account of the battle of [?] when I took my pen—therefore I will close by acknowledgeing my obligations to you for past favors—wishing to be remembered to all the cousins—and a word from you at any time if convenient—I remain as ever—

 

                                                                                                Very respectfully

                                                                                                            Your nephew

                                                                                                                        M.S.Wilson

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