Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1862-08-29
lCoNNUSIcATED-
Soldiers Letter to his Mother

CAMP LAWRENCE, CUMBERLAND, Nd,
August 5th, 1862.
DEAR MorHER:-My health is better than
| it has ever been, and am enjoying myself very
well. begin TO like soldering better, and
think some of re-enlisting had a very pleas
ant and profitable trip yesterday, up TO the
1 MARYLAND Coal Mines, about ten miles from
camp, got free pass on a coal train, and
/ privilege OF walking back for nothing, which
did with no more fatigne thana walk to my
| recitations and back would have caused. The
/ trip through the mines was grand and wonder
fuI. II exceeded anything l ever saw One
| or the miners took US all through its various
ramifcatious; be was greasy and black with
the dust of the mines, had little lamp fas-
| tened on tie front of his cap. Our descent
/ into the mines was awful and yet grand, all
things being properly arranged, we mounted a
| little car which started of down the grade
with the speed of lightning; making the i'm
pressioh4vfyidly apon our minds that we were
rushing beadlong into the bOttomless pit. The
speed was so greal that the lamp upon the
Golfers cap was extinguished by the resisting
and powerful draught of air, so our guide had
TO put on the brake, AID leave US in the black
ness OF darkness. until he could 60 back and
light it, after which we went at more mOder-
ate speed We rode in the car about one
mile, then walked mile, when We came upon
some men at work. l pitied these poor men
picking away at the black hard stone coal
thousands of feet below the surface Of the
earth, breathing the damp sulphurous atmos-
phere; but they seemed contented and happy
"a Jolly set OF fellows. As we cast our eyes
along the dark avenues and saw the men at
work with lamps fastened 10 their caps. which
looked in the distance like stars, and as we ap-
proaeh, and their dus6y forms became more
visible, it required no stretch Of the imag ina
tion 10 fancy ourselves in perditi9u surrounded
by imps with fiery horns. I'll paid well to take
the trip, and rather than not to have seen it
I would walk thirty miles. As we were in the
mines at dinner time we we-e minus that i'm
portant item, aud the long walk in these low
er regions had whetted our appetite 10 an in
tensity almost beyond endurance; so we con-
cluded to throw ourselves upon the charity Of
the people. My friend F. and l agreed to take
turns asking for something to eat, We called
at the first respectable looking house we came
TOO, found 10 one at home but q young lady
As it was my time 10 ask. made known our
wants in my best style, aud the young lady.
who to u.s. was an angel of goodness and mer-
cy, Immediately went to work AMI prepared Us
an excellent dinner W. thought the best we
ever ate. A j soon as entered ele parlor l
knew we had stopped at the right place. There
sat the Piano, and on the center table were
books which upon examination l found to be
mostly text books used in our colleges, Such as
Latin, French and Scientific works After
dinner she played Us several tunes. The mu
sic aud books made me think Of by-gone days.
of .'home, sweet home Indeed for the time
being il seemed lile home. This was the first
piano music | had heard since have been in
the army As we were about d1plrtng she
said that she expected to visit some friends in
Ohio this fall We inquired what part Of
Ohio, and she said even Delaware county. We
of course informed her that we were from D l.
aware She then showed US a picture OF the
o. w. University. which friend had sent her.
She said She thought Of going to the 0. W,
Female College, and would like to see a cata-
logue. l promised TO send her one l had,
and | did 50 this morning. | also showed her
programme Of the Atben lcum Society which
/ happened to have with me. I dill what l
could you may be sure to persuade her to al
| teud school there. We then went or our re-
joiciug, feeling that it had Json q1ite an event
full day in our history Little did we expect
to find any one among the mountains and mi
ners OF Maryland who had relations in Della
ware county, nor did we ever dream Of seeing
q picture Of our University buildings at this
remote distance. The lady's mama is Kate NJ.
shall ever remember her kindness to me, a
poor hungrg soldier. She is true Union.
fear my lengthy letter will weary you
| Perhaps 60 into details too much, but dc
| it to fisten some things on my memory, as wei
as for your information. We expect to re-
eeive our pay when we aie discharged; have
/ heard nothing 10 the contrary. About five
weeks from this date we expect TO be at home.
Your son, b T. w.