In camps ar Fredrick Town Md.
September 8th 1862
My dear Father & Mother
I take my seat
this eavning in order to let you know who
I am and how my health is I am in very
good health now: we have been travling for the
last three weeks I was not well when we started on our
march but I have [?????] better ever since [???] [1]
We waded the potomack the other day
Sept 7th and landed in Merland There is a talk
of us going on to Baltamore we may have
some fighting to do before we get there we
are in a very fix heare the yankees are
all closing in on washing. it is thought they
are badly sceared I hope we will soon
drive them all out of Merland
[page 2]
I saw Thomas Young a few days after he
left richmond and he told me that he saw
you there and Mack gudger I am sory you
did not come about too wak [2] sooner I would
of liked to a saw you very much: long
as you traveld so far: but you could not
of catched us if you had a tride I tell you
there is a bad chance for a citizen to
travail where we come I wrote to you at
hanover Junction va but did not get to send
it J. C. Penland says to tell his folk he is
well and wil writ the next chance
george was left in the hospital at Richmond
I will write again the next chance
It will be a bad chance to send letters
no more at present
your son Wm. M. Patton