Camp Riley

            Hanover                                                                                  June 16, 1861

 

                                                                                                We arrived here to day about 5 o clock in the evening after marching 12 miles, we left camp Grady on Wendsday afternoon and marched through Greenecastle and camped 3 miles south of it called Camp Lee. we are now encamped 2 miles east of Williamsport and 2 1/4 miles off the Verginia shore and 19 miles of Harpers Ferry I seene Charles Stone in Greenecastle his family is all well. as far as we can learn the enemy has left H. Ferry and distroyed every thing befor they left. I think we will lay here now until we get further orders from head quarters as our destination was H. Ferry. the row of troops that left Camp Lee and nabering camps was at least 7 miles long. we had 6 rifled canoun in our Briggade. there is any amount of Infantry Cavelry &c on the road. we did not go through Hagerstown. a good many of our men gave out to day it was very hot. I got at least 4 miles ahead of the briggade we had 1000 cavelry along with us and 11 regiments. the people in Mayeland are very clever they only charge 3 cts for a small piece of bread. but you can see nothing but the/ Stars & Stripes. yesterday I seene that captain that would not give up at fort Sumter and six of his men. he looks like a determined man. each of our men has 40 rounds of cattiges. to night a scouting party will lieve for Verginia. the other day J V Schriver was with us in Camp Brady. we left the camp 2 hours after he left. I could easily march 20 miles a day and not mind it. the scouts have very strict orders. there is a report circulated that we will now be sent to Washington or Alixandria. our men are all well but tired. we are only 6 miles from Hagerstown. if we get different orders we will march to our left through it on to Frederick.

 

                                                                                    Sunday Morning June ^the17. 1861

                        There is avery heavi thunder gust coming up it almost seemes like night. we are encamped right aside of the Canococheauge creek the same on that was at Camp Brady. every day we go in swiming. there is nothing new here of any importance. as soone as we move our quarters I will write. if we go to Washington we will take the cars from Hagerstown. as for news about the war you know more about it than we, as we do not get to see any papers or any thing else but troops.             from your son

                                                                                                            H C. Metzger/

 

Tell Mr Hiller if he write to direct to

                                                            Williamsport

                                                                        Washington Co

                                                                                                Md

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