.MjI5MA.MzY1OQ

This item is currently being transcribed by a volunteer. We look forward to making the full-text of the document available soon.

Camp near Orange C.H. March 12, 1863

Dear Sister

This is to announce my safe arrival at the Regt on the 10th [?][?] after my departure. I found everything all right and my excuse was sufficient to prevent a court martial. I regret very much having to leave the valley and it is a general thing with our whole Brigade [we'd] had such a pleasant time and rations were plentiful while down here our supplies are rather short. I suppose Pa has given you a des- cription of your trip up to H. CH. and it is useless for me to attempt it. I am very much pleased to learn that a great many of our men in the hands of the enemy have been and are at present being paroled. These are many of the 55th among them and all have received thirty day furlough I have heard of several. Arthur Allen R.H. Banks, Dr. Boughan & Bedell Berkley from our county are now at home. I was talking to Augt. Williams about his furlough and asked him how he spends his time while at home. He told me his happiest moments were spent in company with cousin Sue I told I judged so and then told him of the report in circulation about him in the neighborhood to the effect that he was playing at the game with equal zeal at the same time but he denied it to the bitter end and said the report was gotten [rep?] by some enemy of his. I told him I was ignorant of where it started and he