Near Frederick City, M.D. Aug 2nd 64
Dear Parents,
I wrote you last
while over the river at Harpers Ferry
and handed it to a man in Jefferson
while coming through there day before
yesterday, don't know as you will
ever get it but guess you will some
time. What kind of weather are you
having with you now days, it is so hot
here that we cannot live even in the
shade. We have had a rough time along
back and no mistake. Marching all
the time untill yesterday & today.
We came back across the river in a hurry
and were pushed along as fast as posible
considering the weather. I hardly think
our Generals know which way to go or
we shouldn't have staid here over one
day. This morning we packed up and
we halted to share rations, before the rations
came our marching orders were counterman–
-ded and back we came into the woods
again. We have a grand place now, and
I would just like to stay here all
summer, but know we have got to be
chasing about after those cursid
Johnies all the time. One day they
will be in one place and in another
the next. I think we have made some
of the foolishes moves I ever knew
our corps to make. If they wanted to
keep the Johnies the other side of the
river why didn't they scatter us
along the Potomac, leaving a Brigade
or Division to guard the Fords. It would
save a good deel of marching, and in
that way we could keep them out of
Maryland, but now we all go in a
body and when we get where they are
they are some where else, and by the
time we get there they have just left. I hear the Johnies burnt
Chambersburg to the ground, but dont
know how true it is. Yesterday we heard
that Grant had taken the first line of
works before Petersburg, but todays
paper says he was oblige to fall back
and has lost the whole with a good
many men. I guess Grant will find
that he is not fighting in the South
West before he gets through with Lee.
I have got almost discouraged,
so much fighting & marching and so
little gained. Only think of the
men we have lost in our corps only
coming from Harpers Ferry, and all
on account of marching us so when
it is so hot. The day we started back
we had not gone two miles before there
was one third of the men sun stroke,
and between sixty & seventy died that day,
nine in our Brigade, one in our Regiment.
Straglers keep coming in, there being
four or five thousand left all along the road. We have two men in our company
that have not come in yet. Bates for one.
He fell out day before yesterday. One of our
Drummers said he saw him in an ambulan
-ce sick. I presume he is at some hospital
before this. Men cannot march such
hot weather and carry such a load as we are
oblige to. If I live to get out of this you
will never catch me carrying a knapsack
again. I shall know where to enlist next
time. If I cant have a horse to ride I
wont work for Uncle Sam any more
after my three years are up. Yesterday
I was about half dead, today I am just
about half alive, and the Capt is about as
I was yesterday. You know I am good to
stand the hot weather, but some of these
marches are almost to much for me.
I should not wonder if we should be going
to Petersburg before long. I dred going
back, but still I think it would be
easer there than here, for we should
not get half the marching to do there.
I wonder if you have had any rain yet –
it tryed to rain here this forenoon, but could
not make out, it is awfull dusty and dry
here. All we want to do nights is to spred our
rubber and lie down and go to sleep.
Tell Herbie & Frankie that they must try
sleeping out on the ground before they
come out soldiering, and tell them
they must learn to ride horse for that
is the way to soldier it. I hope these lines
will find you all well and getting along
as nicely as ever. Love to all, never forgetting
Mother & the children, Brothers & sisters are
always included,
From your son
Flavel.