Augusta County: Thomas Garber to Addie Garber, September 17,
1862
Summary:
Thomas Garber shares his observations on the divided loyalties of the people of Maryland.
Wednesday Sept 17th 1862
Shepherdstown
Dear Sister
I received your letter of the 1st yesterday and I set you a good
example by answering it promtly you complain of my not writing home often enough I acknowledge
I do not but still I write as often as I can for the last three weeks we have been continually
on the march night and day sometimes not seeing our wagons for
four or five days then we had to live on the country people I saw Asher and Mike yesterday they
were both looking very well said they had not heard from home for some
time. I dont think Maryland will go with the south I think more
than two thirds of the people are Union any
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how they [deleted: are] were in the part I was in it is
true as we passed along we would meet a Secessionist family here
and there but they were scarce. I never want to go back again. I would like to go through Pennsylvania but I don't want to stop in
Maryland five minutes longer than I can help. Has Capt Eskridge
got to Staunton yet I wrote home by the boy that drove his wagon. Tell Pa he owes me a letter
so does sister Kate for that knife I sent her give my love to Ma, Pa, Kate, and sister Elen and
write soon to your Brother
Tom