l-630721

Near Sneckers Gap, VA
July the 21 1863

Dear Charlotte

I thought I would write a fiew lines and send to you by John Travice. The colonel and three commished officers and six noncommished are going to get conscripts. Our colonel has charge of the brigade consertry. They are agoing to fill up our brigade. We left Pleasent Vally Sunday. We croosed the river at Harpers Ferry and marched near Hillsborrow and campt untill yesterday morning we came here. We are about one mile from Snickers Gap. I dont know where we will go but we are on the road to Wasington. I guess we will get to Culpeper. This is a beautiful Vally. We are laying here now. I guess waiting for farther orders. We had two days easy marching. We marched slow but it was verry warm. When they get them drafted men in we will have to march slow for they cant stand it to march verry hard. I heard Parley Tilbury and Ordley Smith were dead. I was quite sirten they couldent live. I would like to hear from the rest of the boys. I dont think James Dore will get well. He was seriously wounded. Our men seam to have good luck every where. They are drawing the raines tighter every day. I think we will counker them ___ I hope so at least. I would like to get a letter but I dont suppose we will get a mail verry soone. I dont know when the men will go after the conscripts. They calculated to go to day but I guess they wont. Lieut Sweet is going. I will send this when they go. John Travace says he is going to the Centre and if he does I guess he will go and see you. Perhaps they wont go further than Elmira. If they dont he can mail it there. I am well and hope you are. I suppose they are to work haying up north now. I wish I was up there to work and the war seteld. I suppose it will take the most of the men from Vestal. I have to clean my gun so I wont write eney more. I will wait until I know when they are going. Good buy.

Dear Charlotte

I have just come in from a bury patch. I am liveing prety well now. I have buries or stewed appels most every meal. John thinks they go tomorrow morning so I will get my letter ready. I wish I could go so I could come and see you. I want to see you all verry much but I shal have to ceep it out of my mind all I can. It wont do for me to think of going home but I cant help it some of the time. We are laying here to day. We may stay here a fiew days. I wish we could get a mail. I want a letter. If we stay here a day or two I think we will get some. I heard to day that Dore was dead. It will almost kill his wife. I done all his writing and read his letters. She felt verry bad to have him gone from home. I am verry sorry it hapend so but she haint the onely one to mourn. I see hundreds lay on that bloodey field. All had friends to mourn their loss. It was a wonder there want more killed than there were where the bullets fly so thick. I shal have to stop writing for this time. I hope they will go tomorrow so I can send this to you. Write a letter and send it by John if you see him. I send my love to you. Kiss the babies for me. How I would like to see the baby and all of you.

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