Hariseburg Va Oct 9^th 1864

 

My Dear Brother & Sister

            I will try now to answer your letter which has just reached me bringing good news that you are all well except bad colds god still sees fit to spare my life for some purpose We now ar at hariseburg verginia laying still I must tell you about the fight at Winchester and Strausburg the army broke camp monday Sept the 19 and atackted the rebs at Winchester about 12 oclock and fought untill dark driveing them through Winchester and holding Winchester untill morning then we started again and drove them down to Strausburg hear we lay 21^st all day and then at about 4 oclock they advanced on the rebs and drove them again scattering them every where captureing 16 peaces of artelery and about ten thousand prisenors and we have catched 6 or 7 / hundred since we took 7 peaces of artelery at Winchester our capt was killed and one leiutenant wounded and one corp killed and ten more wounded Scott was wounded again but not very bad ges all night long the 22 our men chased the rebs every man for him self you could see in the morning our men coming in with prisenors and coprl from Co E caught 5 one man was chaseing a hen to catch and she run under the front steps to the house and he went under after her and their found 5 Joneys oh what fun the boys had had such holowing I never heard enough to set one crazy the news is hear that Gen Grant has taken Peatersburg and fort darling down gues the Dixy rag now I guess but I cannot tell / how true it is our Briggade has gon out forageing today I am on cattle guard yet and hop I shall be the rest of my time which is 11 months lacking 8 days I have not much news to write We have been down to a little vilage called mount crawford about 5 miles from here and burnt all the goverment stores and grain that we found took 12 thousand head of sheep and cattel from the rebs at Stanton then we came back to hear how long we shall stay hear I cannot tell I have not seen Willis for a long time Well I should like to help you eat apples but we have lots of them hear and as good apples as I ever eat at home their is not many potatoes planted hear but such corn you never saw the like the ears grow 16 inches long with 12 rows of corn and achers and achers together / If you had one field you would have to have a husking I am glad that charley Ira is a good boy I shall remember him if I am premitted to return home again oh how I long for a peace full country once more so that we all can come home I must close now so good by for this time my respects to Hatty and all that enquire

 

                                                            And I remaine

                                                            Ever Truly Your

                                                                        Affectionate

                                                            Brother

                                                                        Cash

                                                            E Howard

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