Poolsville Oct 14th/62
Md. Dear wife
Since I wrote the last letter before
this we recieved that box that was
Sent to us along in the Summer
although it had come the rounds
and good many of the things were
broken and spoiled but still there
was many things in the box that
came very good the cheese and gin=
=ger bred was spoiled So also was
the tea for the bottle broke that the
tea was in but most of the rest was
Safe Since we have recieved the
box I can see I gain for the medi=
=cine has Stoped the dysentery
and I feel quite nice although
Sunday & Sunday night we were
chasing the rebels on double quick
but were unable to come in cont=
=act with although we tried thier
wind they were mounted on
horses. while we were afoot
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therefore it give them much the
advantage. but Still regardless of
the advantage we had them baged
and could have taken them all
prisioners just as well as not had
one Regt of our men held the position
that was assigned them but no the
cowards run letting them pass un=
=molested on the Va Side how mad
we were when we leart the fact for
we anticipated quite a time but had
none but a great march amounting
to nothing only making us very tiered
Some Swore a great deal about the
Generals but no fault Should be found
with them if the men that is assigned
a post of honor if and they leave that post
unbeknown to the General he is not to
blame for their fault although they
have a great measure to bear the
blame but it is wrong the cowardly
men Should be sent home disgraced
and had I the power I would put
[Page 3]
the 99th Regt P Vol. to hard labor for the
rest of thier three years for deserting
there post and letting the enemy
through but enough of this as they
got through safe it was luckey and
unlucky for us for they had about
eight Hundred Horses that belong
to our fellows but they have got
away with them and it was their
good luck and our ill luck So we
let them have them I hope we yet
may be able to get Some of them
back in time if we do not it will
not kill us although it is a Shame
that the rebels can come up in
Penn and Steal Horses and
return into Va without all being
taken prisioners it Seams as
though they were favored either
by Heaven or the other place I
will not be the judge but trust
in God that we yet shall be
Successful although things look
[Page 4]
rather dark at times but we can=
=not all ways expect to SunShine
in all wether if there were no rever=
=ses things would go on to smooth
but I guess we need not worry
about things going to smooth
but enough of this for the
time of writing for the night
is about up I lay on one elbow
a writing curious posture Some of
the time resting my head on my hand
most any way to write for our tents
are so low that it is most imposible
for a man to set up unless he sets
in a stooping position but still
I can write if I have to lay on
my back or belly if I had as
good a place to write as I would
to home on a table or stand
I would write all of the time for
it would be nothing but fun
for me to Scratch & Scrable for
I have a pen that runs like a
top and I think Sometimes I had
better Send it home So you can write
for I fear that it is harder work
[Page 5]
for you to write but Still I
have no reason to complain for
you have written first rate to me
Since I have been in the Army
and I rejoice that I have friends
that are mindful of me in that
vicinity thank God that I have
Such friends as I have those that
are mindful of me when gone
tell Norman I always Shall
remember him for his kind
=ness in Sending that medicine
and tobacco and hope I Shall
be able yet to repay him for
his kindness for never did a
kindness do me more good than
at the present for I was out of
money tobacco and it Seamed
almost out of friends but
the box come John & myself felt
as though we were in town
[Page 6]
since we receive the box I
recieved a letter from you with
one dollar in money and I let
John take it the other day and
he went and bought a pound
of butter and three fish which
took the most of I was Sorry
he spent so much although
the butter I was glad he got and
the fish also. if it had not took
so much money I guess I will
not worry about Spilt milk for
what cant be cured must be endu=
=red I am sorry John and I are
in one company for John is as
cross as a bear with a Scalded
head a complete match for his
Father only a little worse he thinks
that I should be as obedient to him
as a child but that I will not do
unless I see fit although I will put
up with a great deal rather than
to have words with him, but some
[Page 7]
times I forgot myself and Scold
back again which I always feel
Sorry after words John in very mean
when he gets a little liquor but thank
God he cannot get whiskey very often
for my part for my part I wish
he could not See any long as he
is with me I wish he or I could change
my place without being in company
with me for I could enjoy myself
better without his being with me I told
him the other day that I wish he and
myself were Seperated not by Sickness
or death but that he would belong to Some
other Reg where I could not See him oftener
than once a week then I think we
would feel different towards
each other but enough of this for what
is the use of talking about dificulties as
long as my health is good I am Sure
I will get along some way and now
it is first rate although I do not weigh
only about one Hundred twenty five
[Page 8]
that is Some eight or ten pound more
than I weighed a few days ago I never
was so poor as I was ten or fifteen
days ago but I took a turn in life and
now I am coming right up wh with
an appetite sufficient to eat a raw
dog if necessary and I hope that I
may ever keep this good feeling
if I do I will Soon look like myself
again for before I looked like a
walking Skeleton more than like a
man I hope I shall get home one
these days and Stay long enough
to get fat I think I would in a short
time if I had good eatables and that
I know I Should have if I was at
home but enough I think I have
written long enough letter for the
time being I have not Seen Steve
but once since he came to
Washington although they do not lay
but a few miles from where we
lay perhapse I shall see him in less than
24 hours I cannot tell write as soon as
you can and I will do the same
this from your Husband and freind
L.A Granger