Franklin County: Samuel W. North to [unknown
recipient], [date unknown]
Summary:
North describes where his regiment is camped and praises his Lieutenant
Trout.
unknown
This is a very desolate looking country. no fences of any account some of the
houses are torn down and others are not disturbed. there are two very fine
residences one on each side of our camp we get water at either. the one is a
union family and they have a fine orchard & flowers garden, and yards.
it is a grand old residence and nothing is disturbed. the inmates of the other
have left. part of the house has been used for a stable part for head quarters.
the windows are broken and the [unclear: fluid] is the common property
of the men. the fields all
[page 2]
over the part of the country we are in are
all open and look as if they had never been fenced here and there you may see a
small patch of corn but I have seen but two fenced fields you seldom see any one
but soldiers. we are passing over the same ground which McClellans grand army passed over last winter. Camp life is very pleasant
so far there is so much variety and so much company that a person can not help
being cheerful. I wish you were here to eat with us we can cook as good a dinner
as any man need want we take pride in having every
thing nice. Tell the girls there is no
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use in trying to scare
us with the idea of bachelors hall for we have tried it and get along very well
the worst part is washing dishes we often sleep in the middle of the day for one
half hour or an hour. we only drill in the morning and evening. Maj. Hershbarger
is here drilling the officers. I expect you cant read
this writing, but I am writing with my paper in one hand and pen in the other
and the boys are talking all the time so you will have to make some allowanse. Cook sends his best respects to you and
says you must write all the news the rest of our family Liz Boyd Bruce
[page 4]
Parkers boys McCune (cake bakers son) are all well and
hearty I think I will stop till I see whether I get any news from home to night. Aug 26 I have not got a letter yet. [deleted: there is]I got a Valley Star from
[unclear: Neuville]. Capt has not received his trunk yet but I think he
will get it soon. Jacob is well and doing well he is drilling a squad sometimes
cooking & so on [deleted: Dr]Lieutenant Trout is the kindest
officer we have. the mail man is coming I must stop.
Sam
