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Camp Wells Aug. the 20th A.D. 1862
My Friend Harry
As I have just now got off of duty I thought that it was my duty to inform you of some of the proceedings. Friend we left Harrisburg [unclear: [illeg.]] of day at 10 O,clock A.M, and arrived at Baltimore at 6 O,clock in the evening where we were treated with much respect by the citizens The whole Regiment got their supper at the Soldiers relig. association; a place kept up by the citizens of Baltimore for the benefit of the soldiers. Our supper consisted of bread boiled ham cheese, and plenty of first rate coffee, but spreads we had none. And we left Balt. at 9 O,clock that night and arrived at Washington City at 1 O,clock the next morning A.M.
where we retired for the night we all slept in the soldiers retreat, a building put up for to rest soldiers in the morning we got our breakfast which was bread and a hunk of meat and chocklet with greese swimming on it a half an inch thick. I had a great notion to greese my shoes with it. We spent a Tuesday forenoon in running around through the City and about 10 O,clock we were marched to where we now are. We are incamped about [ in the] 7 miles south west from Washington. We were marched from the City to camp wells 7 miles with only 2 rests of about 10 minutes each with our knapsacks on our backs and our guns and our haversa[ cks] all together weighing about 50 lbs and we were doublequicked part of the way
Last night was the first night that I slept on the sacred soil of old Virginia and I never slept better in my life. Last night there was one of our gards was out in the hand las night as he was walking the beat there [unclear: at] was a man jumped out of the bushes out of the bushes and cut the gard across the hand pretty bad I do not know whether it was a rebbe or not. Hen. When you get married I want you to send me word for I want to be the second best or first I dont care which. I heard that you were to be married I like it first rate but it is not the living that we get at home. I will get along first rate [ tw] untill winter commences when singing and spelling are going on then I will wish for home
I now must close for the present for we must drill 9 hours tomorrow. write [ sou] soon and give me [ all] the [ all] news of old Southampton Give my love to all the Ladies of old Franklin. Nothing more at present
Yours Respectfully
William J. Martin
Henry Bitner
Address
Wm. J. Martin
Washington
District of Columbia 130 Regment
Cononel Zinn
In care of Capt. Kelso
our company is not lettered [ yet]
- 1862
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