Camp Near Falmouth Nov 27 /62

Dear Father & Mother
I take this opportunity of informing
you that I am well at presant and
hope these few lines will finde
you the Same. The last letter
I got from you I have had a hard
time of it first with a gethern [1]on
my hand and the[n?] sicke and march
ing every since the 27th of last
monthe so we have had a harde
time of it This is the first time I
have had time to write to you. Well
I have left the team and went
in the ranks a gain I was made
Corple No 1 I was in that
mus [2] at Charlestown and then
went from their to Slickers
Gap wear Magor O Neal was
taken I was not a ¼ of a mile
[page 2]
from him wen he was taken I
went out on picket with him
so they shot at us but we
made the scadle [3] a way and
then we went to Salem and
then to Warrenton we stade
their for 2 or 3 days and we had
orders to marched in a ½ houre
so we expect to go a cross the
river to and take Fredrick [4] we
have give them orders to give up
the towne or we shell the town
so they will not do it yet
so I Excpect the ball will open
so we will make them dance
ore them us but we have got
our Battery fix so that we can
silence their Guns In a shorte
order So you may look out
that the Ir[i]sh Bregade is firs
that will have to cross the pontune
Bridge on the Baynet charge
[page 3]
yesterday I was at Aquia creek
fore Forage for us I went as
waggen gard with 54 others with
me and 25 Teams to Garde . But
you mite talke a bout Bad roads
at home This is India rubber
roads we cut down trees and
drive over the top of them to get
a long. So i will have to stope
writing fore tis time I was out on
drill. Well we have not got a cent
of money since we have bin out
hear we heard that the Pay
master will be hear I[n] a week or
so. So good by to all and give
my love to Father & Mother & Sister
and Brother & Brother in Laws and
all my friends So good by to all
From your Son
Wm A Smith
Send yours Letters Washington D.C
Hands cock [5] Division and
Meahger [6] Bregade 116 Rigte Co D
Care Capt W A Peet