p.

Camp near Harrison's Landing VA
July 14th 1862

Ponder this well.

My Dear Friend,

You doubtless are surprised in not hearing from me in so long a time, but it is not
because I have not written. I have written you twice since I received your second letter. In the
first of the two was enclosed a letter from your Mother which was sent by you. That letter
came back to the Regt. again. I wrote one also to send in a letter which Hiram was writing to
you. Whether he ever sent it or not I do not know. I presume he did not as it was just before
our grand skedaddle. How I can get a letter up there and make it stick I don't know, but I will
try at any rate.

I cannot give you all the details of our change of position. When I see you I will tell you
all I know about it. The train was all got off safely but one Wagon. Ed Snow ran against a tree
and had to leave his wagon and load. I was in one place where the balls came in pretty near byt
none of them happened to mean me. Several came near Capt. Wetherell. They make rather
unpleasant music.

The army is not badly used up or dispirited. We had a weeks hard fighting, but the
rebels are welcome to all they gained. We had to destroy many stores and what is worst of all
our sick and wounded fell into their hands. The 5th Vermont suffered most. They have but
about three hundred left. The other regiments lost some. Our company has not had a man hit
thus far in any action. We have had some men die since you have heard from us. Bert and one
of the recruits from our Co. The Standard Bearer is dead also. Persons has been discharged
and Newton has been appointed Sergt. The boys are quite well. The Capt. and Lieuts. bully. Lt.
Harvey was a frightened man the day the teams were fired into. He was acting Quarter Master
and was with the train. He says a shall came near enough to make his horse crouch and the
wind of it blew his hatt off. He is reported to have left in a hurry. What he will do when he goes
into battle is a great question. Lieut. Tracy is reported to have been the coolest man in the 4th.
They will soon cease to make sport of him.

I have received letters from Horace, Mary, and Sister Delia since I last wrote you. Father
was unwell when he wrote. He has overworked and needs rest. I wish he was in a situation so
he could live more easily. He has too large a farm and don't feel able to hire and so he digs
away himself like an old slave. I hope I shall be able to help him sometime, but my own debts
are not paid yet and they wear away slowly at $24 per month with considerable outgoes. I fail
of extra pay here.

Now William I am going to give you a little advice. I see no chance for you to go home
on recruiting service. Capt. Foster has done nothing but speak to the Colonel about it and there
the matter rests. If you recover and come back you can never do duty in the company. If you
come back again I do not think Capt. Wetherell would employ you, for he has laid much blame
to your charge in regard to the 1st Quarter's Papers, and told me one day he would have given
three hundred dollars if I had never introduced you to him. These and other things lead me to
believe he will not have you again in his office. Of course I know the injustice of all this and well