Ransom W. Towle to Family and Friends
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Miss Lauras kind letter No 9 was duly recd two Days ago I have just come in from
a foraging expedition two miles into the Secesh Country for Rails the Result was
[] five big Rails we are not allowed to burn fences here but as no wood
is furnished us we tear down the fences and then burn the Rails that we find
afterwards The results of this kind of
foraging has made the Country
within a radius of two miles from here all into one field. The Timber also has
been all cut within that distance to build Stalls for Horses make wood for Cooks
Officers, etc. This gives the Country rather hard look and is one form of the
Desolation of War. Before the war there were some splendid beautiful swells just
right for beauty of Scenery and advantageous Cultivation with fine buildings and
magnificant yards and grounds. Many of these farms are now desolated Houses with
broken windows doors standing open front yard trees cut down and fences burned
up. this looks too bad but if Secesh Will be Secesh they
must take the consequences There are many Citizens still living in their homes
by professing Union Principles who I believe to be at heart full-blooded
sympathizers with the Southern Cause but who think it cheaper to profess
unionism then be driven from their homes and property. We are still lying idlel
from drill on account of mud it has been the muddiest time for the last four
weeks. Old Settlers say it is more rainy than usual at this season
though winters here are always Rainy Inside you will find a Sprig of Laurel
which came off from a small tree the root of which I made a smoking pipe out of
it is a [bully] big one and will hold enough for a good family
smoke if any of you were smokers I would send it home but as you are not I
suppose you would not appreciate it. I thought perhaps Miss Laura might like a
leaf [of] it for a mark for her book and when she looks at it
she may think that I am smoking from a Pipe made from the root of the Same Tree,
but the drum is beating for Dress Parade and I must go.
good bye,Ransom