Augusta County: Samuel Franklin Carson to Annie
Harris, June 15, 1861
Summary:
Carson describes camp life and the rigors of "soldiering" as he gets used to
both.
June 15th 1861
Fair Grounds.
Winchester
Dear Annie,
I am now seated on a bench in our Barracks (for the present at least) writing on a box of ammunition, surrounded by at least 2
hundred soldiers, all talking & laughing so much that I hardly know
whether I can write or not. But I will endeavor to do the best I can under the
circumstances as I have just finished reading yours & Jimmi's letter which believe me was a source of much
pleasure & I shall proceed immediately to answer it for fear that an
opportunity will not present itself soon again. The 5th Regiment (of which we
constitute a part) arrived here last night about dark
[page 2]
after traveling about 22 miles from Charlestown. The day
before we marched from Shepardstown a distance of 12 miles starting from there at about five oclock in the evening &
arrived at our camp at 12 in the night. lay out in the woods on the ground like
"Hogs" without anything to eat. This is the way soldiering goes.
about one half of our men were so much fatigued. & their feet so sore
that they could scarcely walk. my feet have blisters on now, as big as
[unclear: ten]
[illeg.]
[illeg.]. You have no idea how much we have to endure & yet I
fear its nothing to what it will be. But if I have my health I care not what
comes I can stand it as long as the
[page 3]
most of them. I have no idea when
we will leave this place. The Bridge together with all the public buildings at the Ferry have been burnt by our troops
& the place is now vacated entirely. Also the bridge at shepardstown was
burnt the evening we left by Captain Doyle such a
destruction of Property. not less than [illeg.] of [unclear: it]
destroyed & what [unclear: will] it be by the time the wars are
ended? I had a little excursion over into Maryland the night before we left
Shepardstown, some 20 of our men went out on a scout to see if we could find any
of the Yankees I tell you we ran a considerable risk
nevertheless we went. We
[page 4]
were at a place where a sentinal had been
posted the night before but did not see anything of him. Then was a company of
35 camp[unclear: ers] about 3 miles from the bridge & if the
Colonel
would have let us we would [unclear: tried]
them any how one [unclear: round]. But we had orders not [added: to] go farther than a mile & half - consequently
we got no fight. I must stop for the present, it is so warm & I am so
crowded that I can't write more. if we don't leave directly I will write you again & give all the
news I can. As for the note enclosed - I hope [added: you] will not think any thing more about it. I'll say nothing more myself.
& believe me to be as ever yours. My love to
all,
yours in haste
Sam Frank
no more [illeg.] [illeg.] [illeg.] [illeg.]
