Beverly, Via                September the 21^st      1861

 

Dear father and Mother,

                  As we did not have to travel any today, I thought that I would write you a letter. And before I write any more I will say that we are all well, also well satisfied, and getting along fine.

 

In the next place I will give you a small history of our journey up to the present time. As you are aware we left Indianapolis on Saturday night the 14^th inst, traveled all night We arrived at Cincinnati at 8 Oclock the next day (Sunday) We staid there until 2 Oclock in the afternoon, and then got on the cars again and traveled all night passing some very large hills.

 

Monday september 16^th still aboard the cars passed through some more large hills and twice under ground, finily arrived opposite parkersburg, and crossed over the Ohio river in a steamboat, arrived in parkersburg at 12 Oclock (noon) staid there until 7 Oclock PM and then got on the cars again and traveled all night. Tuesday september 17^th still aboard the cars, passed through hills under ground two of which was a mile through them. / we arrived at Webster at half past ten pitched our tents there on a hill side. Rained very hard in the after noon. we staid there all night. Wednesday september 18^th still in camp, started in the evening a foot at ¼ till four and traveld about four hours and stoped for the night, pitched our tents near a meeting house and staid there all night. Thursday September 19^th started again a foot at 8 oclock, passed through philipi, traveled about 17 miles, and stoped on on the laurel hill battle ground and staid there all night. Friday September 20^th started again a foot at 7 Oclock and 20 minutes and passed over laurel hill, which is a hill sure enough, it took us three hours to pass over it. traveled all day, reached beverley in the evening and camped there all night. Saturday September 21^st which is today we are still in Beverley and I do not know how soon we will leave. the probability is we will leave tomorrow. But where we will go I know not. I understand that the rebels have run from Cheat mountain. I belive virginia is the hilliest country in the united states almost. I am now sitting on a rock and by looking at some of the hills I can scarcely see the tops of the trees for the clouds. We will write again soon, we feel perfectly safe and satisfied.

W. H. Speer

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