cams_OAyers_b12_F006_010_002

in their place All this regiment
who have been with us have at
different times prooved [proved] failures
The 22^nd acted badly at Charles Town, Virginia
on our retreat form Strasburg, Virginia the
25 failed to do any thing when we
once changed a scirmish [skirmish] line
at Haull [Hull] Town, And the 2^nd M D [Maryland] were
driven from the field with half
their numbers opposing them refusing
to rally on our squadron when
we went to their support and
leaving us to fight it out alone
We are now in the Regular Brigade
which is also the Reserved Brigade
and is commanded by our
former Charles Russell Lowell III The Brigade
consists of the 1^st 2^nd Regulars and
the 2^nd Mass [Massachusetts] I believe the 5^th & 6^th
regulars are also included but
are not here One Battery of four
guns twoo [two] ten pound rifles, and twoo [two]
twelve pound Napoleons also belong
to the brigade Formerly our Brigade
has been known as Lowells [Lowell's] Brigade and
in this campaign has been credited
with one hundred and thirty four
prisoners all of which were taken by
the 2^nd Mass [Massachusetts] Our Brigade is now
considered the best here and we
have more men in the 2^nd Mass [Massachusetts]
than in all others regs together I begin
to wish the fall campaign to close
soon as I am worn out and tired
out, besides the weather is now
very disagreeable raining almost
daily and the nights to [too] cold to sleep
out without cover I cannot think
we shall be long needed here for
I think the Johneys [Johnnies] will themselves
be forced to fall back nearer their
base The valley cannot support them
nor even the inhabitants this winter
We have destroyed many of the mills
and nearly all the grain and hay
below Strasburg, Virginia besides we drove