Camp at Whites ford

Maryland Jan 4 1863

 

My Dear Brother

                                    I the take this opportunity to write afew lines to you once more. I got your letter of the 21^st and was verry glad to hear from you once more, but I had began to think I should never hear from you again. I wish you would write oftener I have so many to write to it takes all of my time most, but I will write as often as you will. Well we have moved from where we were when I wrote to you before. We are about 30 miles from where we were up the river. you can find I verry near where we are on the map we are about three miles above Conrads / ferry. three Comps of our Regt are stationed there; and three; three miles above; and there are four here. we are here to guard the fords of the river for these are places where the Rebels can cross. they attempted it one night but found we had a strong picket force, and skedaddeled back pretty lively; if they had come over they would have been received by a verry warm reception for we were all drawed up in line ready for them; we were called on again yesterday on a alarm of rebel Cavalry crossing the river. were we were the first Comp that got into line and we started off on double quick for the river to to help the Pickets and got down there and it was a lot of our own US Cavalry; but we can resist alarge force here for we have got some rifle pits dug on two sids and asteep bank on the other. but we are the boys that fear no noise all / though we are far from home we are about 45 or 50 miles from Washington, and about 15 miles from Harpers ferry; the people here are all seceshionist, but they beg us to be more quiet than they were when we came here for the Col let us do as we was a mind to, and the way the sheep (though they are verry scarse here I have not seen but two or three flocks and verry small at that since I have been out here) and Chickens and pigs and in fact every thing the boys could lay there hands on they took, and they would go into the houses and mak them give them vituals and there was a general goins in but that is stoped now for they have come in and clame to be union. we are encamped in sight of Major Whites house he is a cunning rebel it is not but alittle ways acros the river. he / has quite a large Regt of rebels I presume you have heard or read of White’s Cavalry it is a sort of gerrilla tribe they are not regular enlisted men and he goes scouting around the Country in squads taken such forces as he can and he says he will have us yet. Well perhaps he will but he will have to work some if he gets us for we have got a good position and can hold it against alar large force but I dont think they will trouble us but dont you say anything so the fothr will get hold of it for Mother will worry her self most to death if you should; but we hav no fear here. I can lay down at night and sleep as sound when we expect an attack as I can or could if I was at home I have sent home for an other box and if you have got some gum you want to send me I should be verry glad of it I sent the letter yesterday I suppose they will send it as soon as they can get through; but I must close for this time write as often as convenient this from your affectionate Brother

                                                                                    Corp

                                                                                                J W Fletcher

To his brother C l Fletcher

 

PS the sixteenth Regt is not any whare near us they ar some 50 or 60 miles from us I should think I have not seen any of the Vt nine month Regts

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