I believe I wrote you last while
I was at Camp California last week. We left there
a week ago last Thursday & went to Washington & staid
there two nights. I went all about the city. Saturday
I started[?] for the regt which was 5 miles above Rock-
ville Md. & 21 from Washington. Got there Sunday
found the boys tough & hearty – but looking pretty
rough. Staid there two nights. Found waiting for
me a letter from Doctor & one from you & Mother. They
came via New Haven. Last Tuesday we left there
& came up to Middle Brook. Our regt went
picket that night. We captured two pigs a

calf & sheep. Col. Cross charged on one pig & ran
him thru with his saber. The next day we
marched a few miles & the next A.M. came
to Clarksburgh. A Lieut, myself & 30[?] men
were detailed to guard the houses & gardens
in the village. The citizens gave us all
we wanted to eat. I got a splendid supper
& breakfast. Yesterday we came up to
Hyattstown. This A.M. came to Frederick City
& after dinner marched thru this principe
[--?] & are camped in a field just outside. We
heard heavy firing ahead as we were coming
up & I expected we would have to fight this P.M.
but the rebs had left this vicinity. Our cavalry
drove the rebel cavalry out of this town
doublequick last night. There has been heavy
firing to our left all day. Probably it is
Keyes Cor. Gen. McClellan is right with us
so we are in excellent spirits & full of confi-
dence. His appointment to the chief command
gives unbounded satisfaction to the
army. Gen. Pope we regard as played
out. Gen Burnside was in town when we
came thru. This is the prettiest village

I have seen in the Southern states, it contains
three or four thousand inhabitants I should think
It is situated in the middle of a large plain
& near the Monocacy River. It is surrounded
by splendid farms with handsome, neat-
looking buildings. All the way between here &
Washington this country is very fine tho
hilly with fine farms all along. Everything
looks thrifty & prosperous. War has not
troubled it much till now. There is an immense
lot of corn growing & fruit is very abundant.
It is nothing but fun to march thru this country
here. I don’t know how long we shall remain here
may move on tomorrow. I hear that “Stonewall”
Jackson is pushing toward Pa. He is a sly old
fellow but he had better keep his eyes
open. The people of Fred. City appeared very
glad to see us. Flags were flying from almost
every house. We have had no mail since Tues-
day. Hope I’ll have a lot of letters when it does
come.

My health is very good indeed never was better.
I have just written to Mother & I wrote to her last
Monday too, Sewell Tilton I hear is going Capt.
in the 11^th regt. I am glad of it – he will make a
good officer. John Cram is Orderly Sergt. I am
glad for him. He has worked like a dog at
home & and I a glad he has got so good a chance
tho it is is the hardest berth in a regt. It is the
next thing to a commission. Our Orderly was pro-
moted at Harrison Landing. This raises me a
notch. I wrote you last winter that it was to
be done then but it was not. We have only 5
Capts now that came out with us. Maj Cook
resigned after the battle of Fair Oaks. Capt
Sturtevant of Co. A. is Major now, Capt Cross
is liked as well as ever. I can’t stop to
write more. Give my love to all