Wednesday, October 29, 1862 - Maryland Heights, Maryland

Camp Near maryland Hights

Oct 29^th 1862

Dear Wife

I received your letter Sunday night but have not had time to answer it till now it found me well but wet through to my hide for I had been out on patroll duty since Saturday in the afternoon through Saturday night and Sunday it rained like great guns and it was most mightly cold the water run down my back and belly both we got to Camp Sunday night about eight O clock with blanket over coat and every thing soping wett so you can judge or yourself in what sort of condition I was to lay down on the ground under a little shelter of rubber blankets and take a comfortable snooze, I think the weather is colder here than in Connecticut for the time of year if it is not you have pretty cold weather now, I was glad to hear that you ware all well. I am in first rate condition at preasant so you will preceive that my soaking did me no harm. I think that I am in a thriving condition for I have gained five pounds in the last two weeks, our regiment is under marching orders and has been since last Saturday we was ordered to have two days cooked raitions in our haver sacks and keep them there so as to be redy to march any time at a moments notice, there was quite a move yesterday among the troops they was passing pretty much all the forenoon a short distance from us I suppose it was Burnsides army as they lay in the direction they come from, I received a letter from your father last Saturday saying that they wal all well also that Frank was over thear that he was getting home sick and thought he should go home the next day if his Granpa did not make cider also that Frank said his mother wanted he should come over and buy the cow for forty dollars, but he thought he should not doe it. now if you think you can not take care of the cow this winter you can dispose of her if you can get what she is worth but at the same time it would be my advice for you to keep her if you possibly can for a cow in our family is quite an item do you make any butter to sell now a days if you do I should like to purchase a few pounds for I think some of those eagles spread on my hard bread would make a decided improvement I have not seen any thing of the kind since I left home a few potatoes likewise would not go amiss along with my salt [junck] I have not eat but one potatoe since I left New Haven so you will see that I am not very heavy laden with that kind of produce it is the same with all kinds of vegitables we have none, I received a letter a few days ago from Mother Brainard Louesa wrote it however She said Edgar was up their Saturday you was all well so I hear from you [fosom] all sources which I am very glad to do, I think your dress is very pretty I suppose you intent to shine out this winter the same as all the soldiers wives from Moodus have before you must remember and live inside of your means, Georgias will do for her I guess when she gets it made she can walk down some afternon and make me a visit and when she coms be shure and send me some of those good sized apples, if I was shure we shuld stay hear all winter I should write to have some things that I should like sent to me if you see Mother Brainard tell her to knit me a pair of mittens with a fore finger on each miten so if I should send for anything you could put them in tell her to knit them out of doubled and twisted yarn, well children I suppose you have been good all of you you must all write, my love to you all from the old gentleman A.C. Smith