Franklin County: Samuel W. North to his brother,
November 1, 1862
Summary:
North describes the difficultly of marching through Pleasant Valley and explains
how a pontoon bridge is constructed.
Brother
November 1st 1862
Camp on the march
Dear Bro
We are resting in a field in a small valley between the
mountains left our camp about two o'clock on the
thirtieth, marched through Sharpsburg and on about 8 miles (it is only guess
work) and stopped on the other side of the south mountain in a woods. it was an
excellent place to spend the night. we had leaves for a bed Spread our tents on
top and slept first rate were up and on the line by daybreak and moved on
through a place called pleasant valley and it was a
very beautiful place looked something like the
little cove we passed by dozens of deserted camps and one convalescent camp saw
some men with but one arm each out in the fields with a dog they seemed to be
enjoying themselves asked for N.Y. regiments. we
moved on and pretty fast too our knapsacks
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pulling back all the time
I tell you the marching is nothing but carrying a load of about 50 pounds is as hard work as you ever tried on they don't feel so heavy at first but grow amazingly a lamb
when we start but an old sheep when we stop. we can have some Idea how horses
feel after pulling all day my shoulders are so sore I can hardly move them
without hurting. I will not get my boots now and it is about as well, as most of
the boys who got new boots have sore feet. I will try to get a pair of
[unclear: good] shoes when my boots are worn out they are far easier
to walk in than home made ones which are too narrow in the sole. I will try and
send this letter with some citizens who are here from greenecastle. but I must tell you of harpers ferry. we got there
about dinner time there was a train passing with some very heavy cannon on the
mountains and close together
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and rise most perpendicular the Rail Road canal river and a road on each side of the
river take up the whole distance. the government property has been very much
Injured one building has a broad crack from foundation to the roof it was a
strong stone building. we saw dozens of car wheels the
bodies of which had been burnt and several cords of gun barrels which were destroyed there are workmen on the Rail Road it is in running
order they have putup a Rail Road bridge of trussel work
across the River We crossed on a pontoon Bridge it was made of boats fixed
straight up and down the stream about fifteen or twenty feet apart and fastened
above and below with anchors then beams laid on the boats and planks laid across
them it makes a very nice bridge we marched through a
[unclear: gap] in the mountain and have stopped about five miles
south of Harper's Ferry.
We have not moved this morning yet and the report is that we are to be mustered in for pay our officers are fixing up the pay rolls. Thom Creigh has been transferred into the signal corps it is a very nice position but they have a good deal of hard climbing to do as the signals have to be at the highest points of mountains houses trees & so on. Tell mother I will answer her letter in a few days my shoulders are too sore to write more.
Your Bro
S.W. North
We belong to Porter's corps
