we came bu the relay house where the first battle was fought we saw here the men was buired that was killed in the first battle that was fought they had a big stone stuck up their. we got up this sid of baltimor the was a train of cars started out ahead of us and we started after them & got out 4 or 5 miles and & the biler burst on the head train killed the engineere & one soldier we see the soldier lay on one side of the track and the engineer was blowed through the top of a tree & 80 rods from the cars Sull went to see him & said that he thought that the was not a hull bone in him. 

 

I must tell you alittle about the bois Tom place is the best feeling fellow that I ever saw in my lif William wimple feels midling well Emory has had abad cold & has not got over it yet Tomas wickam is sick bill King has had a pull down since he came here John Sanders is sick now he is a good fellow was glad to hear from father when we got to Elmira we met E. Green & Sull lorre & N. wimp out on picket and I thought that they would half kill me they shook me so things looked odd to me when we got down to the ground.

 

I have a good deal of time to write & read if I had the books but the is no books hear 

 

I have just got up to finish my letter sos to send it now I commenced last thursday and to day is monday we here that Jeff Davis has sent the stars & stripes to A. Lincon for a settle & A.L. has sent back word that he would give him 30 days to think of it & if he would come to his tirms he would settle if not he would settle it with powder & led the boys red in the paper that they would discharge evryone that would through of their 100 dolars bounty money Some of the boys is a going to leave for home. I have got not much more to write at present as I am about sick I catched cold down to Elmira & have not got over it yet 

 

tell Jim Hayes that the captain is agoing to send for him if he does not come when John orr comes back So he had better come then. thats all I am glad that Dolphin did not come. all we have to eat is is alittle meat & a loaf of bread 5 inches square and 3 thick potatoes 2 times a week & rice 2 a week coffee 2 times a day that is our rations I cannot get a chance to have my likeness took if I can I will send it So good by

 

[upside down]

 

Direct  Washington, D.C.

            Care of Capt J.B. Maltbie

                        C. Company 64 Regt

                                    N.Y.S.V.

                        Camp Fenton

 

I am far from home father & mother

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