Templeton_Letter_Folder_23__Undated

Saturday the 15 2 PM Two miles further on towards Richmond about half way between Warrenton & Faettsville We are now waiting on a wide open field here our troops in large numbers tremendous long baggage trains trains of artillery & Cavelry &tc I have a chance to see what a great army is advancing towards Richmond fully 200000 men are within 10 miles of us. I learn that the Rebs appeared only in a small force probably [???] dying to capture some of our baggage I learn by those who have been where the shells struck that the Rebs fired Rail Road iron & shell one shell struck within two rods of an ambulance in which was the Capt. brother [Ziba???] Cogswell. In fact I guess the Rebs can't attck us anywhere except they find us in large Numbers. The weather has been very warm & pleasant since the snow storm the roads so [????]

I meant to write you a little about ???? Spring I will say it bears the marks of a battle field immense buildings such as Hotels stores & boarding houses are all riidled with ball & shells

a letter from her to learn what is going on at the city of [?] We are anciously waiting the desicive turn of affairs at Vicksburg the last accounts are that Grant would probably capture the place before many days but we wait & hope hardly daring to hope for there seems to be somebody always ready to blunder & turn a victory into a defeat I suppose John Le. [Lyminds?] has seen pretty tough fighting I wrote him 10 days ago I hope he has come out right Did I understand you that the 16th [day?] were not coming home till 20th July guess they arent [hay?] much this year tell [Nat. Gaylor?] guess I shant get home to [hay?] for him this season have got to squeeze out this rebellion first We are doing it last [?] we occasionly make an advance of 10 miles

Suppose Emma is now in H so I send there a ring I made for her out of bone please write if it fit her finger I hope she will have a goot time suppose she will go to school it will be a good chance as Jennie keeps tell her she must run out doors a lot + dig in the dirt then she will tough What does Mrs Black think of Old Hillboro She thought it a right smart rocky hole I reckon Tell Jim Sawyer & Geo Bumrill should be happy to receive letters from them If clerks can't write I don't know who can June 1st it is a lovely day the wind is cool + it is delightful writing in the shade have plenty of stamps fpr the present I wish you could get Emma's Fathers + Mothers pictures + send to me write as soon as you get this From your affectionate son brother W. J. Templeton

to-morrow a Rail Road train Pass us perhaps bring us some supplys We have a little hard bread and pork and to-night we have bacon for our eatables to-morrow which is nice. We are stearing right for Richmond. We got to-days Washington Cronical it contains good news that is that our advance is made in such a way as to dance the Rebels from Richmond Downhill them to fight 200000 men on home Richmond to its fate the more I see of the movements of our army the more I think Ironside is the man we shall make no retreats this time I respect to him Richmond in less than a month [illegible] pass by the [illegible] you get this letter we shall be there. You have no idea how desolate this country is I have not seen any even to-day. I look in vain at evry apple tree for the least sign of an apple I dont think it possible to find an ear of corn anywhere round our camp. It is a magnificent night to stand on our Camp ground and look