On Board Cars on Baltimore & Ohio RR

Mar 23^d 1863

 

Dear Brother

                        I will now pen a few lines the train has stoped for a few moments only I do not know as I can write after they start they rock so We left Newport News the afternoon I last wrote left the Fort at 4 PM and arived at Baltimore at 4 PM 22^d went on board cars and left that place at 9½ PM 22^d arived at Harpers Fery at 8 AM 23^d today they had soft bread and hot coffee all ready for our breakfast stoped there about two hours. We are now about 172 miles from the Fery on the Baltimore & Ohio RR we have to go upwards of 300 miles farther on this train then take a transport on the Ohio River and go I know not how far but think about seven hundred miles the largest place we have passed through since we started from the Fery is Martinsburg. the train has just started its uncertain wheather we go / to Tenn or Kentucky. Gen Burnside has commd besides our regt on this train we have two other small regts 28 car loads two Engines in a few moments we shall have up grade for 17 miles near Ch[?]t Mountain. Enjoy it first rate but have no chance to sleep will stop until the train stops again 7 AM 24 stormy we are now in Piedmont passed through Cumberland last night get Bread and meat here suspose that before night we shall reach Wheeling capital of Western Virginia. this road is guarded by western V—troops When you write to Springfield give them my love tell them I received the box in the nick of time. the Col went ashore at the Fort & report to Gen Dix and he brought back my box with him I was lucky. it would never come so acceptable as now. Everything was nice Sergt Jenks was very much pleased with his presents tell them to give my thanks to Uncle, Benjamin, Rebecca, Mary A and / all who contributed take a generous share themselves. there are scattering houses all along the route the women old and young have their Hankerchiefs, dish towels &c this is a romantic scenery along the route all high hills and mountains on the one side the Potomac on the other. we stoped nearly all night, greasing up wheels &c I just had a wash in the Potomac. Pat Smith left the Co in Baltimore, guess he deserted quite a number of the regt left I like being under Gen Burnside. Uncle Sam carts us about considerable from NJ & Nashville Tenn it is 1376 miles we may go farther had a rough time outside the Fort some were sea sick Walter arrived a few moments after I mailed my last letter reported everything lovely, received the cake and letter. Eat it on the boat Seth myself fare alike on my boxes, he is a bully fellow

 

I shall send this the first chance I have after I learn our destination the trains from Ohio keep passing / loaded in part with hogs. Seth is well and sends his respects to all when anyone writes to any of my friends let them know I have left Newport News. I suspose you got the letter rather message I sent in Mothers letter we shall not get our mail so soon now but it will come straight we are the 3^rd train up with troops some 14 or 15 thousand yet to come of our Corps Walter is well I enjoy the ride its better than on transports Give my regards to all the D[?] I may happen to know will stop untill we go a piece farther. Stoped again have been on a 17 mile up grade through the Cumberland Mountains had to make three trains of our one and only just move are off again will stop until we stop again have to stop for two trains to pass. Will take more paper train just passing loaded with tobacco

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