Sunday, July 12, 1863 - Hagerstown, Maryland

#26

Drawed up in line of battle

In a wheat field, somewhare near

Hagerstown M.d. Sunday July 12^th 1863

Dear Wife

I will take this opportunity to attempt to answer your letter which I received Thursday night I do not know as I shall have time to write but will commence was glad to hear that you ware all well your letter found me well and still remaine the same and hope when this reaches you it will find you all the same we are now in line of battle have been since yesterday in the fore noon our skirmishers was sent out as soon as the line of battle was formed had not advanced more than a quarter of a mile before they come upon the rebel picket had a little brush and the rebels fell back every thing has been quiet since but a battle is expected any moment our orders are to be ready to fall in at a moments notice there was two of our men wounded yesterday in the skirmish two rebs killed and five taken prisners. I expect our army has got the rebs pretty well surrounded and it is thought that they will have a snug time if they all get away I hope we shall be able to bag them anyway. I received a letter a few days ago from some stranger or I thought so from the way it was commenced. this was the way it started Mr Smith a perfect stranger I supose, I did not get time to answer it I hope the writer of it will excuse me for not answering it you can inform the writer that that I received it I have been on the move most of the time since the 13^th of June we are having pretty tough marches now days from twenty to thirty miles a day. we hardely get time to wash even our hands and faces. I expect to get lousy now for I have no changes of clothing have hardly had a dry thred in my shirt for two weeks, You spoke about some of the folks in Turkey Hill wishing that the rebs would come through and burn the place all I have to say about such is I think they are to mean to live it would be better for the country if they ware all strung up on some tree by the neck it is what they deserve and what they may get if they are not a little careful I saw a rebel spy the other day suspended by the neck from a tree he has been round with our army ever since last fall when we was in pleasant valley last fall I saw him in our Regiment a number of times he had union songs to sell but he finaly got traped and received his just deserts. Georgia I was glad to receive a line from you should like to every week you wanted to know if you could go to the district school when yours was out. If you can earn anough to pay for going I have no objections, but while I grant your wishes you must remember that I expect you will be a good girl and mind your Mother I have not heard much about the boys lately so I suppose they are good boys I hope so at any rate all is quiet yet and I will close by sending you all my love & a kiss.

from your Affectionate Husband & Father

A.C. Smith