Camp Beaufort

                                                                                                Charles County

                                                                                                            Md Feb 17 1862

 

My Dear sister I Will now try and answer your long Neglected letter in the first place I must tell you the News that has just come to our Colonel the Rebels generals Buckner Jonston and 15 Colonels and majors With 15,000 men have just been taken prisoners With all their camp Equipage fort Donelson has also been taken now Phebe I want you and mother to sing the star spangle banner just as loud as you can ball and say that is for Dick the soger for I cant sing but We gave 12 as thundering cheers as ever rooled over the hills in dinney for our brother soldiers one of my comrad that tents With me left the south last spring he used to Work for general Jackson you had augh to have seen him When he heard that Jackson had lost his men and baggage the Rebels are abad Wound up I guess oh Phebe you had aughtto have heard our band play yankee doodle it made the boys jump and yell like so many Wild indians We gave cheer after cheer for a chance to get a crack at the Rebels When We do get a crack at them it Will be a bloody day but the boy is Willing and ready to start to night if We are called I am as anxious for a fight With the traitors as I Was the day I gave myself to my Country to fight my countrys battles but Phebe if I fall for my country I ask no happyer death but it is my honest opinion that the Rebels have not nor never Will mold the Ball that Will as mutch as scratch me for I have past through one shower of lead that lasted 9 hours but I have already told you What I past through at that time I think I can join my friends again this summer by the Way I have not received my box yet but it is so dark I cant see so good by give my love to all from Dick the boy that Went for a soager

 

                                                                        Write soon

                                                            Lyman A Dickey

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