Sunday, October 05, 1862 - Maryland Heights, Maryland

[Letterhead: Lady Liberty sitting with sword and shield and Old Glory]

Camp near Maryland Heights Oct 5/62

Dear Wife

I thougt I would write you a few lines this afternoon seeing I had a few leisure moments on this sheat will say that I am well and hope this will find you and the children all enjoying the same great blessing I have just been to dinner had stued beans with hard bread in them the hard bread we get here now is so old that it is full of bugs and worms if I take a couple of them at a time lay one down while I eat the other when I look for the find it walking off at the rate of ten knots an hour the Captain has just come along and said we must be redy to go on dress parade in twenty minits so that is the way it goes here you can scarcely get to writing before some order coms to fall in for somthing I must break off now and get ready finish up afterwards, Wall I have got off from duty again it is sun down and my fingers are cold but will try and fill this sheat with somthing it has been rumord to day in camp that there is a fight going on to day betwene Mc,lelan and the rebbels but a few miles away from here it may be before I write to you again that I shall have a chance to smell gun powder in an engagement with the rebs if I do hope I shall have a chance to do them some good, we have a few rebbels prisners within a few rods of us, you wrote that you had seven dollars left is that what you had left of the money I sent home or is what you had left of the whole that specia and all I left at home when I come away tell me in your next also whether Mr Smith has paid you or not, give me the particulars about your affares generly about the pigs cow & also whether Mr Gates has drawed you that wood or not, it has got to be so dark I cant see to write so must stop till after supper, well Georgia how is everything how do you do I hope you have been a good girl and helped your mother all you can you must write to me and give me all of the news Edgar I suppose has got to be a first rte boy since I left home working down to Mr Fullers I hope you have at any rate you must have mother or Georgia write a few lines to me for you and let me know how you get along, Frank good evening how are you to night all right I suppose I think you would like to be out here with me and ramble up the side of the mountain clost by here it would suit you tip top no mistake Fedy your name comes in at last you have been a good little boy I know you children must all remember what I told you when I left home from your affectionate Husband & Father

A.C. Smith