Washington D.C. Sept. 6th 1862
Dear sister,
Your last note dated in Temple
was duly recieved presume you
are at work at your trade picking
hops by this time, consequetly
shall direct this to D[????]y
Should written before had not
the “powers that be” put a [net?] upon
sending letters from the army of
Virginia home. You doubtless
have heard by the papers that
our troops have all been driven
out of Virginia. The first [???]
often passing through, and enduring
almost every thing is now all safe
in Washington arriving here yesterday
man and horses are all tired and
we are exchanging most of the horses
for new ones, the men will most
likely be allowed a few days rest
at least I hope so I cant write what
seenes we have past through
and it seems miraculous that so
[page 2]
few got hurt. There has only four
in the Reg. been wounded th[??]
not seriously one of our Com.
was hit by a pistol Ball in the left
arm, I have often read of Bullets
flying thick as hail, but now I
know by experience what it is to
be such a place. I am not agoing
to tell you any of my exploits
or what I done. for fifteen days
we were scouting in the rear
on the flanks and in the [advance?]
wherever the enemy was most
expected there we were one week
our horses were unsaddled but one
night when we slept at all it
was by the side of our beasts
with the bridle upon our arm
holding them by the briddle nothing
to lie upon but the cold earth, and
nothing over us but the broad heavens,
It is mortifying in the extreme to
have to acknowledge another Bull run
defeat but so it is and allways
will be so long as that
Traitor McDowell holds command
[page 3]
in the army there is not a
soldier but would shoot him if
they could get a chance it is strange
that those in authority will keep
such a man in command when his
men have no confidence in him and
every one knows that knows anything
about the war knows that he never has
made a successfull move since
the war commensed still the papers
of a certain stripe will extol him
and abuse McLellan.
such papers are doing more to[furthering?]
this war and aid the south
that every thing else continued
the soldiers are not fools and
a year service has shown them who
is capapable of leading them and
who is not I have seen enough
to convince me and I have [????]
men from all divisions of the army
to convince me that McLellan
is the man of all othesr to lead
and direct them in battle.
We have been [poorly led?] and
out generaled in Vir and had
[page 4]
the rebels followed and pressed
us as they did McLellan on the
peninsular the whole command
would have been destroyed.
My healthe is not very good
but hope by resting a few days
will have a good affect.
Albert is well he has been
with the teams during the retreat
consequently has not been exposed
to so much danger altho when
the rebels made their dash on Cat
letts sation they stole his horse
and saddle
Write soon It is well
you did not send that cheese
for most likely I never should
got it
While we stop here every kind
of eatables and drinkables can
be had at all prices,
I must write no more
letters to day so shall have to
bid you give my love to Father and
Mother your own share took out
far amongst the rest.
Yours truly F. N. Holman