Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1863-02-11
Letter from Co ID. 1i5th Rcgi-
ment Penn. Volunteers.
CAMP NEAR FALMOUTH,
February .. 1868. {

-; AOOO-
FRIEND ToDD-I, again, drop YOU a
few lines to let you know how we are get
ting along but before | 90 further, /
wish to correct an error which appeared
in my last epistle, lest 1t might be mis-
construed in such a way as TO do injustice
TO some of our officers. L believe that
1 wrote that the Captain had been sent
back with a portion of the company to
| procure arms, and that returning on Sun
day afternoon, they joined the regiment,
which was then in the I'd line of battle,
where they remained until we received
orders to retreat. This is the true state
ment, but 1t did not read that way in
print. As for the other officers. Lieut.
| Brallier was laying sick at Harrisburg
at The time, and the ID Lieut.. was de-
I tailed TO take charge of the % men who
/ had arms. but before crossing the
I river he became suddenly sick and was
/ Obliged TO turn back, whereupon Sergeants
| Davis and Snidt were obliged 10 take
| command Of the - men, until the Cap
/ tain came up with the balance of our men.
Since I.wrote to you last, we had
! another attempt L. meet the enemy, which
turned out to be complete failure. On
the 18th we struck our tents, got into line
and ma rched through the mad and cold
until dark when il commenced raining.
We were then ordered back 10 our old
camp where We arrived during the night
well drenchcd. Shortly after daylight we
tried II again wading through the mud.
winch was then nearly knee deep. The
roads were horribly cut up with the wag-
ons We passed wagons mired and can
non begged with ten and twelve horses
hitchcd to then--the drivers cursing and
''laying on, " officers swearing at the dis
asters AMI privatcs grunbling at Uncle
Sam, as they -trove with stick 10 pry
out their half worn shoes from the mud
which would urnavoidallv stick fast
- every once and Il while We marched
about eight miles that day to Pine
woods where we bi, ,cuackcd for the night
upon the wet ground. The next day the
whole army WAS put to work 10 make
roads, build crossing bridges and dig
out wagons that were stuck. in order
that thc artillery might be brought back
TO the oil encampments. The next day
we hucklcd on our knapsacks and agar
marched back TO our former encampmen
: where we remained one dav. We were
l then ordered on picket duty. We were
several days matching forward and back
ward which. from the mud, rain anC
sleeping on the wet ground, Injured Us f,
some OF the hardships of military life
Since then We had foot Of snow wiIicl
reminded me of winter on the Allcgha
nies. but it did not last long
y We have many rumors lii camp Du
I We do not attach much importance t,
| any OF them. 1t l. rumored that tn
army of the Potomac is To be divided
some TO 90 90 South Carolina, me TO tia
i South West AMI other paints. Tn
change OF Commanders appears to Civ
general satisfaction the soldiers hav
more confidence in Gen. Hooker thai
: they placed in Gen. Burnside He goe
a here by the name of . fighting joe
! John Ruggles, Of our company, 1 IN
sorry to write, died on the 29th ultimo
He was 4 citizen of Blair County an
' leaves wife and children, living in til
vicinity of Hollidaysburg The balanc
;. of Co. ID are in toler.,bly good health
!, with the exception of few, who com
plain of Rheumatism " bad cold &c.
close for the present and renal
). yours Respectfully.