Tenlytown Maryland

40^th Regt. N.Y.V.

Sep 16^th 1862

 

Poolesville Md.

Sept. 18^th 1862

 

Dear Sister Libbie

                                    We have to embrace every opportunity whilst we are on the march if we are anxious to write a note. I commenced as you see on the 16^th to write you a few lines when we halted at Tenlytown, but I had no more than commenced than the buglers sounded the call to fall in.

 

Wilson and myself are quite well, but somewhat fatigued by marching. We received your letter you sent with fathers and also a letter from Alice. we were glad to learn that you were all well and happy. We were some what surprised on the evening of the 15^th by the arrival of those Boxes you sent, one sent by James, and one by father. the other has not come yet. The boxes were excelently packed and if we had received them in season we should have enjoyed them amazingly. We received from the Box you / sent that nice can of cherries which was in excelent order, and note paper and envelopes and lead pencil, which was all we found in your Box. the other things were all spoiled Those shirts were all mold and covered with cake and so forth that had decayed. When we opened it was just like a hot bed. James Box we got a can of something and pocket combs, Bottle of hair oil. The other things were spoiled. And then we had other Boxes given us by men in the Company who had been sent to the Hospital we opened three such making five in all. But the joke of all was that after we got them thinking to have a good chat and laugh over them we had not yet got them all open before we received orders to be ready for a march in five minutes, and when the five minutes were up we were ordered to fall in line. It was about eight O'clock at night. It made us feel somewhat provoked, as we had to leave everything behind. We catched up that can of cherries and ate it along the rout. / Those shirts we had to leave with everything else Such are the fortunes of war. We marched to the River and remained over night till daylight, when we crossed the bridge to Georgetown and halted at Tenlytown for a rest, and stoped over night at rockville. We came from Rockville to poolsville yesterday.

 

Monaschey[Monocacy], 6 o'clock P.M. We were ordered to march ere I had finished my note. We are now near the Potomac again, and we see the Hills upon Virginia soil and directly on our right we see Sugar loaf Mountain which is quite a curiosity. We seem to be the "Flying Protection." They cannot get along very well without us we have to go to all the places where they are anyways active. This is a splendid country all the way from Georgetown. Much more so than Virginia. I only hope they will not order us over in Virginia again, as I have seen all of Virginia that I care to just about now.

 

I send enclosed a picture I procured whilst in Alexandria. I presume you will think I have changed in appearance / some especially in the line of color.

 

I wish you could see the original for about two weeks. Of course we do not know where we are going, nor what we are going to do, but the supposition is that we are to let old Jackson know that Kearney's Division is around if Kearney is not. Gen Stoneman has charge now of our Brigade Division.

 

You ask if I am 1^st Lieutenant. I am not, and am sorry that such report had reached you. I firmly expected to be so before this consolidation took place I expected to be promoted over the orderly. The Colonel of the 87^th gave me the nomination, to Gov. Morgan and also sent in my name to Gen. M^cClellan for promotion and also as one of those who had proven themselves brave and gallant in action. But this consolidation knocks it all in the head and I am now nothing but a private. I was offered a Sergeancey in the 40^th but declined saying I would rather go in the ranks. Col Dodge of the 87^th Regt. says he is going to have us out of this after a while.

 

I must close. Give my love to all

 

Good Bye

                                    Your Affectionate Brother

                                                Jonathan Sproul

                                    Co. C. 40^th Regt. N.Y.V.

                                    Kearneys Division Heintslemans Corps

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