Camp near Maryland heights Oct 4, 1862
Dear wife
having a few moments to spare I will improve the opportunity by writing to you to let you know what changes have taken place since I last wrote you which was last Sunday. Sunday night went to bed as useualy at twelve Oclock was called up to go and draw two days rations to be cooked immediately the orderly stuck his head in at the tent door and says hurry up boys it is stiring times now we have got marching orders for to morrow morning at eight O clock so we got our selves in rediness but did not leave untill near nightmarched from Arlington Heights back to Washington went on board the cars at Washington in the evening Monday; about eleven O clock started for Fredrick city Maryland arived there Tuesday about five O clock P M stayed there but two days when we received orders to leave for Sandy hook near Harpers Fery whare we arived Thursday night at twelve O clock got out of the cars marched about a mile and lay down beside of the road until morning when we turned out and the fog cleared away I cast my eyes up at what I supposed was clouds but lo and behold we ware surrounded by mountains on every side, we are now in a rebbel country within two miles and less of whare the last great battle was fought the place whare colonel Miles surrendered to the rebbles but they could not hold it so our forces occupy the place at preasant and think we shall be able to hereafter some of the boys have been up on the side of the mountain saw dead rebbels bodys they are finding them evry day have to burn them now to destroy the smell in coming from Washington to Frederick city I passed over a bridge that was destroyed by the rebbels when they was in Maryland it took them four days to blow it down just befor we got to the bridge we passed four dead rebbels berried with their hands out said to be the ones that set fire to the powder that destroyed the bridge X good morning again Lucinda and all of the children it is Sunday morning and a fine one too have not been to brakefast yet could not get time to finish this letter yesterday and do it this morning we had rather of a cold night of it last night the coldest we have had the wind blew very hard from the north west we are now in a fighting country but how soon or whether I shall ever have any of it to do I cannot tell but think I have a chance to see the Elephant soon, must draw to a close, direct your letters the same as you have before it will take a little longer to get them back and forth my love to all of you from your Husband
A.C. Smith
Copyright © 2009 Bruce E. Leandro. All rights reserved.