Fort Reno DC. July 6^th 1863.

 

My Dear Friend,

                        I have written two letters this afternoon. now I will answer your letter which I received on the 10^th of June almost a Month has passed since then Oh how rapidly time passes away more than eleven months have passed since I stood up, and swore that I would defend Our Government against all its foes It is eleven months to day since I was married what a year it has been for the first year of a man’s or a woman’s married life. we have only seen each other a few times since we were married and those few times were short. It is getting / dark I can not see the lines So I must light the lamp. we burn kerosene oil. Everything passes on smoothly in this vicinity we have been alarmed, and routed up out of our slumbers a few times but the enemy has not appeared to attack us or let us attack him. The army of the Potomac has been doing nobly for a few days I think it is about time for it never has accomplished much heretofore. If M^cClellan was at the head of it now, I think the rebels would not get hurt much. But it seems the rebels are getting some hard knocks now and I think Gen^l Lee is in a tight place and I guess it will be rather difficult for him to get out of it. I’ll not be sorry if he never gets / out of it. But I will be glad. I hope the whole rebel army will be captured. Oh would’nt we rejoice. It appears to me that I could jump up straight about ----4 feet…The best thing the rebels could have done for the Union cause was to invade the Free States it aroused the spirit of the North and her sons hastened to meet the invading foe. Some people may blame our Generals for letting the rebels get into Pennsylvania, but I think it was just right. they ought to have been let alone until they got there last Fall they might have been captured it would have been far better to have done that even if a few thousand dollars worth of property had been destroyed (most all of that would have been the property of vile copper heads) I have read an account that out 6,000 male inhabitants / in the town of Carlisle, Pa…only 60 took arms to help repel the Southern foe…I think that is shamefull if true…What has become of James and Susan Merselis I have not heard from them for a long time. I received a note from them in Elias’s letter and I answered it in the same way…a long time ago…I saw Elias yesterday he was well..I saw Gilbert Keenholts the day before yesterday he was well…We have had plenty rain for a few days past. that raises the streams, and help’s the Union cause by hindering the rebels on their retreat…they can not ford the stream’s I would like to write more and tell you about the celebration of the 4^th in Washington &c&c. but I hav’nt time now. I am well and

Remain Your Friend   Stephen R Whitney

 

                        …Write Soon…

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