1861 August 21 Camp Vernon

Dear parents and friends

I suppose ere

this reaches you the last one that I wrote

before will have reached you and in some

measure relieved your mind. In about two hours

after I maled my last letter the order

came to strike tents and march imediately

which we did as short notice we came to

our new camp in about one hour it is a

good place close under the guns of fort Ellsworth

which I suppose we are to protect if there is an

attack made here our Regt is at work on the

fort strengthening it by diging trenches on the

inside to protect the men in case of battle I

have been there at work 2 1/2 days and expect

to work a number days yet there is a large

body of woods that has got to be cut away

we are expecting 1,000 axes to commence with

we works six hours a day and this will make

us healthy and hearty the men in my tent

[page 2]

say that I am fating up a little at any

rate I feel first rate and have a good

appetite to eat any thing that is furnished

our pickets had a little skirmishing once in

a while the other day our cavelry met the

rebel cavelry our men routed them and drove

them to fair fax our men lost one killed

two wounded and caught a number of prisoners and 5 or 6 horses

the enimys loss is not known we are expec

ting an attack some where on the Potomack but

we do not know where it will be we are pre-

pared for them at this point I do not think

that 100,000 rebels can drive us from this place

this is the general opion about here I can see

from where I am our men at work blocking

up the roads and taking away bridges to pr

event the enimy from crossing the river into

Maryland which they intend to do if they

can but I think they will get disappointed

in the undertaking we have a plenty to eat

and it is good enough we sold two bbls. of beef the

other day belong to our Co. and bought a bbl.

of syrup which is first rat to eat on bredd.

[page 3]

we have meal corn and flour puddings two or

three times a week if I did not recieve so

much by one third, I should have as much

as I could eat. you asked a few questions in

your letter and will answer them the first

way to know if we were coming home in three

months there has been a rumer that we was

coming home in three months but I cannot

say it is true and I hope it is not I know

there is not any one that wants to be at home

any more than I do but it will not suit me

to come home before this question is settled,

if we are to be ordered home I will write

in season to let you know you wanted

to know if George F. I supposed you ment Fred

came of of the battle safe he did come out

safe and sound he was lame and tired

the same as the rest of the men it is not

safe to believe any thing untill you are sure

that you are right I did not know what

you ment by my coming up missing after the

battle we were ordered to retreet each one for

himself and we separated, and come together

[page 4]

and come together again about 5 miles from

the battlefield, there was about 20 of our Regt

with me and we went a straight course to Senterville

with the sentre colume the rest were scattered in

squads all through the woods til we got to

Sentreville where our company got together

and stoped about 3 or 4 hours and then resumed our

march to fair fax and thence to Alexandrea

where we stoped a day or two to rest. I have

received all the letters you have writen seven in

number they have all come direct to me

I have not any more news to write here is some

pictures for Walter and some watermellon

seeds for you to save to plant the mellons

are the largest I ever saw. I expect to have some

money soon and I shall send it home and I want

you to make a good use of it use it for any

thing you need, I return this bit of paper

for you to keep for it was written by our sargent

Smith G. Baley I have seen it before in paper

Hiram M. Cash

Private, Co. K, 5th Maine

MSS 12916

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