Mary E. Farnham to Henry
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I must write a word to you tonight although it is past nine o'clock. All the boys
are having pies, apples, cake, cheese, apple sauce, chickens &c. and these
goodies do these boys so much good. You cannot tell how
they gladden their eyes, and all these things remind me of my brother Zeke and
how he would like a box of the like. Now then I want you to get some of these
articles and box them up and direct to Ezekiel's Captns care for your brother E.
I know Grandma, Mary, Uncle Thomas and Mother will put in a slice a piece for
him, and be sure and put in a loaf of brown bread. Now
you
just see to this when you go home. They all will do this for
Zeke as he is the sole representative of the family in the 10th. Regt. Give my
love to Grandma and Grandpa Johnson and Uncle Elliot & Mary and to all
others who enquire for me. I came to Wolf Creek Shoals yesterday. It is near
where the Bull Run Wolf Run empties into the Occoquan River. Just
look on a good map and you can find the place for it is twelve miles farther south than where we were near Fairfax Ct. H. You
cannot have the least idea of the travelling out here. The mud is just the color
of brick pounded up, and the wheels go in nearly up to the hub in many places.
We had to walk the horses most of the way. The driver would make nothing of
going over stumps of trees a foot high. And trees ten feet high slim trees that
would bend or break was no impediment to our progress. Now this is the plain
truth. I cannot
describe the going, for I never imagined anything like the Road we went over. I
only held on as for dear life for fear I should drop out
behind the Ambulance. I was a little tired as well as Mrs. Blunt Mrs. Ormsbee,
Mrs. Stearns, the ladies who came with me. But I only exclaimed This is
splendid! So much better than I expected! So we keeped up one anothers spirits
till we arrived in camp and then I had to go to a Secesh house with Mrs. Stearns
and stay all night. I felt rather homesick for the first
time since I left home, for I did not like the looks of the people. I
will write more anon about them. They were real secesh of the F. F. V's. I left
them this morning and am now accommodated in Camp where I shall remain a while
if the Rebs do not shell us out, for they are but a little distance off.
Bushwhackers are all around.
I shall not dare to ride so far from
Camp, as I did at Fairfax. It was too bad to move from there. I felt as bad as
any one I tell you - For we had a beautiful encampment there. And a much safer
place I should think - For there are earth works of the Rebels just across the
river, which we shall destroy as soon as it stops raining, which time I am
afraid is far distant for our winter rain has just set in. And it is almost
impossible to get provisions for the Army where it is. You in Vermont have no
idea of the mud now. And they say this is only the beginning. It is raining hard now, and I am under cloth covering. I
will not speak of my health, for you may know I have been well or I could not
have gone through so much as I have. I only hope I shall be as well the rest of
the time. All the boys are pretty well except Pettis who is sick with the
Vereloid. But he has the best of care - a boy worth sixty thousand dollars who
is cook in the Regt. volunteered to go and take care of Pettis. He is a noble
fellow. I do not owe you a letter but I wanted you to send Zeke something to
eat. Write soon
Your sisterMary E. Farnham