Camp on Halls Farm
Sep 22nd 1862

It is with pleasure
that I now sit down to answer your
kind letter of the 18th I was glad to hear
from you & to hear you wer all well
& had got my letter & the silk I sent
you you wanted to know how much
I paid for it & where I got it I did
not pay much I got it the same place
I got the sugar & it cost the same I
gave the boys about 50 skeins I did not
know as I should have a chance
to send it home I dont know how
much there was in the bunch I sent
in Ben Binghams satchel but I guess
over thirty skeins we get lots of
peaches here we went to Drainsvill
the other day & we did not camp
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till after dark & some of the boys
found where there was some peaches
that night & the next morning I
& mort went after some water
to get breakfast & I took my harver
sack along to get some in we found
a barrel of peaches on a mans portch
so I filled my harversack & then I
thought it would not be enough for
the company & there was a baskett
set there so I took it & filled it &
took them to camp it made us quite
a feast & when we started out we
went by the mans house so I
took the baskett & threw it into the
door yard the man & a woman
stood in the yard but did not say
anything I suppose they were glad to
get the basket I dont know what
kind of an army you women would
make but I am afraid you would be
as bad as we are Henry Sagers Sister
wrote to him just the same as you
[page 3]
wrote to me she said she would
take what ever she wanted well
if we can get it we do but cant
always get it Austin Berrie Hiram
Wallen & me was out on pickett one
day in Luray or we were encamped
in Luray at that time I had volent
eered to go on pickett & after we
was releaved we thought we would
go & get something to eat we did
not propos to pay for it so I
was put in spokesman so we went
to a farmers & I went up to him &
told him we had been watching
three secesh & was hungry
& he would have to give us some
thing to eat he said they had not
much to eat but he supposed they
could get us somthing I told him well
be about it for we are in a hungry &
we got off of our & went into the
house & waited till they got it ready
& after we got done eating we thanked
[page 4]
them & they said we were welcom
but I know they lied I tell you
it was hard for me to go up to a
man in that way but then they had
not ought to be secsh there was one
family in Luray that thought all
the wourld of Henry Sager & me evry
time we went there they would get
us something to eat but then the
reason was we protected them from
the dutch We know how to get
along with the virginia folks they
are verry easy flattered so of couse
we use flattery to them isent it
it right I suppose not but then
it is better than it would be to
abuse them Tell Alzade & Mother
thank them but as I cant come
home to get them peaches I will
eat all I can & fill my pocketts
here evry chance I get but I
[page 5]
wish I could be at home & eat
a mess of peaches with you & think
that war was over but I dont know
as I want to go home till I go to
stay for the parting is as bad as
the abesence but then that is not
saying I dont want to go home
by a good deal but we have got into
a bad scrape & we must get out
the best way we can & that for me is
to be as easy as I can & do my duty
& fight like the duce when we get
a chance & then if I ever get home
I can think of my soldiering days
with pride & not shame
& for you I know you will act your
part right
Tell Jim I am much obliged for
that bill it is of no use here but
will be when we get into dixie
just as good as any
I wish I could think the war
would end soon but am
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afraid our army is not on the
right track you would shuder if
you knew half the wicknedness that
is carried on in the army I dont
know but all armies are so but
I did not used to think so of
our army in the old revolutionary thing
by reading of it Our Officers from
the highest to the lowes are more
than half of them thieves I hope our
army will change for I think we are
fighting in a good cause & if we go
at it right we cant help but
conquor
Well it is getting late & I
expect we will have to march tomorro
so I must go to bed good bye for this
time from your affectionate
Husband Thos M Covert
PS No 1 kiss Edie & Katie for me
PS No 2 we draw new revolvers tomorow
they are colts our old ones are condemed
[page 7]
Tuesday Morning
we have not got orders to march
yet but we are agoing to get some
more new horses & return the
old ones
TMC