The news here this A. M. is that Harper's Ferry has been taken by the secesh, with eight thousand prisoners and a large quantity of stores. On the other hand we have report of Union victories. The latest reports are that Harper's Ferry has been recaptured by our forces. But why a place like that was left in a position to be captured at all is more than I can see, unless it was intended that the rebels should have a place to get out of the scrape they had got into. I judge from the appearance of the mail bag that our regiment sends about a bushel of letters a day, but we do not get so many back.
Fruits are plenty and reasonably cheap.
Sept. 19 th , 9Aa. The system of picket guard by Company has been adopted here-that is, one entire Company goes out for picket guard each night. That will give us all one good night's rest, and it is needed too. The constant duty has pretty nearly used up some of the boys for a few days, but none are dangerously ill, I think. The weather is very warm here now, or seems to be.