Camp near Bakersville, Md. Oct. 23^d 1862

 

Dear Brother

                                    I rec^d your letter a few days since and was glad to hear from home once more. Glad to learn also that you were all in good health. I am at present in good health and hope that this may find you in the same health. I have nothing very new or important to write, yet I will write something, for I always make it a rule to answer all letters that I get.

 

Since writing to you before, our Division of the Army have moved. We moved about four / miles nearer Hagerstown. We now have a very nice camp ground and will probably remain here for some time. We have drawn some clothing and will probably draw more soon. We have given our names to Capt. Miller and he has sent home for clothing. I sent for a pair of boots No 10^s two pair of socks and a pair of gloves. You can send me such other things as you think I may need. (I mean small notions) Tell Father when he sends me a letter to send some postage stamps, for we have / not drawn any pay yet, and in all probability it will be two or three weeks yet before we draw our pay, and postage stamps are scarce. I have no money at present, but I can get along without any until pay day. We get orders from the Capt so we can buy paper, envelopes, or anything we want from the sutler. Lieut. Pugh has offered his resignation, and as soon as it is accepted he expects to start home. Minos Miller is now Orderley Sargeant, and should Pugh go home, I have no doubt but he will a Lieutenancy. The health of the Regt is only tolerably good, about three hundred able for duty. 

 

It is now over fourteen months since I have been in the service and I have not been sick a day yet. I certainly am very fortunate. I now weigh a hundred and sixty five pounds.

 

            I must soon close. We have made quite an improvement in the line of cooking. The hard crackers that we can scarcely break, we grit them and make them up into flitters, and you can scarcely percieve the difference between them and corn flitters. Please write soon and give me all the news.

 

As ever your Brother

W. H. Speer

 

Sandford S.

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