Franklin County: Henry C. Metzger to His Father,
June 16, 1861
Summary:
Metzger writes to his father about his regiment's position and possible movement
in Northern Virginia.
Father
June 16, 1861
Camp Riley [deleted: Hanover]
We arrived here to day about 5 oclock in the evening after marching 12 miles, we left camp Brady on
Wendsday afternoon and marched through Greenecastle and camped 3 miles south of it [added: called Camp Lee]. We are now encamped 2 miles
east of Williamsport and 2 1/4 miles off the Verginia shore and 19 miles of
Harpers Ferry. I seene
Charles [unclear:
Stine
] in Greenecastle his family is all well.
as far as we can learn the enemy has left H. Ferry
and distroyed
every thing
befor they left. I think we will lay here now until we
get futher orders from head quarters as our
destination was H. Ferry. the row of troops that
left Camp Lee and nabering camps was at least 7
miles long. we had 6 rifled cannon in our Briggade.
There is [unclear: any] amount of Infantry Cavalry
[unclear: &co.] on the road. we did not go through Hagerstown. a
good many of our men gave out to day. it was verry hot. I got at least 4 miles ahead of the briggade. we had 1000 cavelry along with us and 11 regiments. the people in Maryland are very
clever they only charge 3 cts for a small peice of
bread. but you can see nothing but the
[page 2]
Stars & Stripes.
yesterday I seene that captain that would not give up at
fort Sumter and six of his men. he looks like a determined man. each of our men
has 40 rounds of [unclear:
cattiges
]. to night a scouting party will leave for
Verginia. The other day J.V. Schriver was with
us in Camp Brady. we left the camp 2 hours after he left. I could easily march
20 miles a day, and not mind it. the scouts have very strict orders. there is a
report circulated that we will now be sent to Washington or Alexandria. our men
are all well but tired. we are only 6 miles from Hagerstown. if we get different
orders we will march to our left through it on to Frederick.
Sunday Morning June the 17, 1861. There is a very heavi thunder gust coming up. it almost seems like night. we are encamped right aside of the [unclear: Canococheaarge] creek. the same on that was at Camp Brady. every day we go in swiming. there is nothing new here of any importance. as soone as we move our quarters I will write. if we go to Washington we will take the cars from Hagerstown. as for news about the war you know more about it than we, as we do not get to see any papers, or any thing else but troops.
from your son
H.C. Metzger
[page ]
Tell
Mr. Piller
if he writes to direct to
Williamsport
Washington
Co.
Md.
