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“We marched through Leesburg with stars and stripes waving and bands playing national airs, something unusual for us to do without it's a large place. Rumor says that our rear guard burned the place, but I don't believe it, although it has the reputation of being strongly rebel -- a regular hotbed.”

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“We took the cars at once for Frederick, Md., and arrived there at 10 o'clock a. m. to-day, finding the city nearly deserted by its inhabitants.”

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“With the Georgetown or Washington and Baltimore turnpikes both passing through Frederick, it is easy to see why this is an important point as viewed from a military standpoint. The latter runs in a westerly direction from Baltimore, crosses the Monocacy river over a stone bridge about three miles from, and on through…”

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"…I am satisfied, have plenty to eat such as it is, crackers, coffee regular, beef, rice, beans, and mixed vegetables, dried for soup occasionally, and sometimes we have an opportunity of buying bread, potatoes, apples, peaches, cakes, cheese, chickens by paying very near their weight in silver."

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“We are now about 10 miles north of Sharpsburgh. Saturday night we commenced marching at midnight, the report being received that the rebels had crossed into Maryland again. We were hurried right through, I was officer of the guard that day and had to bring up the rear. I guess there was as many as 10 or 15 fell out of every company, could not stand it marching so fast. We marched till 5 o'clock Sunday morning and I think I could have kept up till noon at the same gait. The rebels had crossed and drove in our advance but the report is now they have crossed back again. I think they do it on purpose to bother McClellan, first crossing here and then there, keeping his troops running up and down the river to drive them back.
You see by the papers that they were terribly defeated in the great fight last week, perhaps they were but they took their time crossing the river and the next day one of our brigades crossed in their rear and were driven back on a double quick. Both armies suffered severely and what advantage was gained was on our side as they were compelled to fall back but the papers as usual will be about everything in regard to the war.
The 121st has been very fortunate thus far for a number of new regiments have been rushed right into the thickest of the fighting. The 126th was at Harper's Ferry during that fight and were all killed or taken prisoners. Orange (?) Wright is lieutenant in his company and has command of it now, there being no other officer in the company. Orlando Bruce is wounded in the head, not dangerous, John Wilting died in the hospital a short time ago. That company has but 21 men fit for duty now. There is no telling when we will be called into action and for my part I don't care how soon but I do not think we shall until we are better drilled unless the army is badly cramped. If I get shot I don't want you to -go to the trouble of sending for my body. It is all nonsense. It will do no good. It can return to its native dust as easy and as well in Dixie as anywhere.

If I get shot I don't want you to go to the trouble of sending for my body. It is all nonsense. It will do no good. It can return to its native dust as easy and as well in Dixie as anywhere.”

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"When I last wrote to you I told you I was stricken with the fever and should have to go to the hospital a short time. The regimental hospital had no medicine and so I was sent to Hagerstown to the general hospital. Here I found things just the same. I received one pill in two days. I telegraphed for you but guess you did not receive it and am now glad you did not for I and Lt. Van Horne have succeeded in obtaining a place at a private house in the village where we have the best of nursing and good medical treatment. You need not feel worried about me for I shall fare just as well as though I was at home. You need not send me any money until I get well enough to need it when I will write."

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"Here I am yet in Hagerstown on Thanksgiving Day. The weather is splendid, not a particle of snow, middling cool. The sun shining brightly and 1, myself, feeling very nice. I shall not go out today as I have a slight attack of the jaundice, nothing serious. I am getting real strong since I got over the fever, should probably have been stronger if I had not went down to Washington so soon, but I am glad I went for I got my pay for two months by going, over 200 dollars, which I do not know when I should have got without going down and this will pay all I am owing and some beside. Those berries you sent me were splendid. They are the first I have tasted since leaving home. Mrs. Swartz, a real old lady where I am boarding, stewed them for me. Mrs. Maxwell where I was when I had the fever and Mrs. Swartz both have been very kind to me, doing as much as anyone possibly could for me, except you. I gave Mrs. Maxwell 20 dollars for I have no doubt she saved my life. The doctor only charged me $4.25 for five visits in which he broke the fever and nursing brought me up. I know you must worry yourself a good deal about me. Now for my sake don't any more, I have enjoyed myself first rate ever since I left home except a few days on the march and about a week when I was in the hospital, but I never got downhearted or discouraged a particle. When I get home, and I surely expect to get thereagain, I am going to stay. So make yourself as contented as you can till I come. You know I always wanted to go away from home to see the world, and especially for the last few years. Now I am away and am perfectly satisfied that there is nothing away from home that will satisfy a person's desires any more than at home. Even in Washington where I stayed three days I saw nothing that would entice me to stay rather than be with you at home."

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“We are wending our way down the old track again where our army passed last fall. We shall not push Lee very hard, I think, until the conscripts are received. Capt. Galpin has gone with a squad to fetch enough to fill our regiment. I would like to write a good long letter describing some of the scenes of the march but cannot until we get in camp somewhere and get rested out. My health as a general thing has been good but you know of course a person anywhere will have a day or two of indisposition now and then. Virginia is suffering tenfold that she ever did before. The soldiers steal and plunder everything they can lay their hands upon and night before last a splendid barn was burned where we camped. I can't like this way of doing business. Private property should be respected the world over. The rebs I know did in Pennsylvania but that does not justify us who have plenty of victories (?) of our own. We crossed the river on the morning of the 19th near Berlin below Harper's Ferry. The men are very hopeful of an early close of the. War since the victories in the Southwest. '

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Entering Frederick in September, 1862: “The Federal army had never before seen such a reception as was given here. In every doorway and in every window were women and young girls waving the Union flag and in every way manifesting the greatest joy. Barbara Frietchie was here. Although the poet’s story of her definitely waving the flag over the head of Stonewall Jackson’s men was not true, yet it represented the loyal spirit of the women of the place as it appeared that day.”

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"There was a secession sentiment in Emmitsburg. Some of the officers entering the town in advance of the column were taken for the foremost of Lee’s army. They did not correct the impression, and were well treated by the southern sympathizers. The choicest old liquors in the cellar were placed before them. The entertainers were somewhat chagrined when they saw the true colors of the column.”

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