Year: 1862




all men, sheuld live close to God, and yet it
seems to me they never think of dying, al
though their comrades fall all around them.
We had a severe fight on Sunday; our regi-
ment was cut up terribly. I was sick and
was not in the fight They say it was awful /;
our men fell back with great loss; our com
pany is nearly all killed or wounded; the
slaughter was terrible. tits generally thought
we will have much hard fighting soon, as the
Yankees are close after US.


have had many chances to desert since
we have been in Maryland, but my pride will
not permit me. Although was always op-
posed to this war, and think it was begun
without good cause, and only to crafty the
ambition of broken politicians, yet cannot
bear the disgrace of being called deserter.
Besides 1 could not come home to sec my
dear parents and brothers and sisters any
more; so I think I will try to stick it out and
trust my life in the hands of my Heavenly
Father and if it should be His divine will that
we are never to meet again on earth, we have
His promise of happy meeting beyond this
vale of tears, where brother viii no longer
war with brother, and death will never come;
but would love to be at home with you all
once more.


When think over it. it seems as though it
cannot be that we are separated; often
dream of home and the loved enes left be-
hind me. When I came over the mountains
a few days ago stopped and looked down
on the beautiful fields and the happy farm
houses and cattle grazing, and none of the
desolating marks Of war was here; then
could not restrain the falling tear, as COM
pared the happy land before me with the
desolate appearance of my own loved native
land and the parts of Virginia we cane thro'gh.
You have no idea of the horrors of war; Ian
guage cannot describe it; men seem to live
and die without thought of God or eterni-
| ty-many with terrible oath Of blasphemy
in their mouth, going right into the presence
Of holy God with horrid curses and impre-
cations on their tongues. May the merciful
Lord have pity upon their poor souls and save
them from the gnawing worm thatnever dies.
There is much more Union sentiment here
than we expected to find. think our officers
are sadly disappointed with their reception
here, although they do not say much. do
not think the people of Maryland generally
wish to cast their destiny in our hands. There
are many who wish US we'll, whilst but few
viii come forward to assist US. think our
leaders have been greatly deceived by misre-
presentations as to the true sentiment Of the
people here. They are not with u.s.


Dear father, when you write again please
send me some post stamps and a couple of
dollars in gold, as our money will not pass
here, and if had a little good money could
get many little things want, as things are
cheap here If 1 only had the right sort of mon
ey. IF you have chance you may send ME
$50 or $50, if you can get United States or
Northern money, and can get clothing here
much cheaper than at the South, but don't
send it in a letter, as I may not get it, per
haps some one will be coming up shortly and
then you can send it with safety.


Give my love to all inquiring friends; tell
Mary and Lizzie to be good girls, and tell
Eddy to do what he is told, and not to pout
any more; tell brother William got the
blanket he sent me, and it comes quite good
these nights. With much love to you all I
must now close, and beg you, dear father and
mother, not to forget me in your prayers, as
I know you viii not, and will strive to live
close to my Savior, and should we never see
each other again on earth may we all meet in
the kingdom of our blessed Redeemer, where
life and its sorrows are over.
Nothing more at present. but remain as
ever, your dutiful and afectionate son until
death.