Part 13 of 25 in Civil War Letters of Algernon H. Scribner. The date below is the letter’s historical date; the article retains the collection’s publication date.
Letter transcription
Chantilly, Apr. 11, 1863 Dear Father, I got your letter to night and was verry glad to hear from you and that you was well[.] I am well as usual except for Diarheh which is rather uncomfortable[.] i cannot think of much to write i have written all the news to Grandfather. this afternoon i have been out around Centersville and out to our further Pickets it is a splendid country where we are now. although it is entirely deserted houses torn down and woods cut down and burnt up. theres been anny quantity of Officers and their aide[s] in Camp dressed in Dresses and Hats more Females then Males i do not know but you think that we are all along our Regiment[.] if the Rebs should attack us we could get 10,000 men in half an hour and 4000 Cavalry and two or three Batteries to pray upon them there is no Concentrated force anny where near here nothing but Bush Whackers and scouting parties some of our pickets made a dash on Middletown and took about 100 prisoners from Nosbys Cavalry we are getting up logs and brush round our encampment to prevent Cavalry raids on us we have to keep our Horses harnessed night and Day out[.] the Officers are more scared than hurt but dont know as my writing will interest you much but cannot think of much else[.] i herd that Levi Patch and Abe T had been to Canida and they arrested Abe as a Horse Thief they had better stay at home untill they know what they are running away for. the boys are all pretty smart and in good Fighting order but we dont see anny of right away it is getting quite late and i must close pretty soon i forgot to tell you about our Cow scrap when we started from Camp Casey we took about 1 Days rations with us which laster us the 1 day pretty well the next morning we got up with nothing in our haversack except a few crums we started and marched 6 miles through mud up to our knees and we got to where we are now about 11 in the night Came and we got nothing and Morning and no sign of anny thing and we thought best to kill some thing to eat we went over on the battle field and killed 4 Cows and 2 sheep Dressed them and brought them into Camp and made us feel better the next day some of the Secesh [derogatory shorthand for Sessionist] brought in a bill of $104. Cant write so goodbye for this time
From you Son Algernon Scribner Co. C, 25th Reg. Chantilly, VA Washington, DC
Source
Transcribed by Jean F. Hankins in 2011 for the Otisfield Historical Society, with permission of owner Hal Ferguson of Otisfield. Original spelling, uncertain readings, and editorial notes are retained.
Read the original transcription (PDF, starting on page 12).