Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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I thought as we are once more at a halt I would write you a few lines We left our
camp at Clouds mills the 23rd at 4 oc A.M. and after a very tedious journey
[] Washington & Harpers Ferry we arrived here yesterday 10 oc A.M.
being over 3 days on the road, in passing over the R.R. between here and H.
Ferry the train of cars which I with my Co. were on run off the track, but as we
were not running very fast and there being ledges of rock on each side the track
but little harm was done though two cars were pretty badly smashed up, no harm
was done to any of my co I have written this at the foot of a
Walnut tree with the paper resting on my knee. Val
except that 3 or 4 of them lost their caps. We are now encamped on a
hill about ½ mile from the village of Winchester but in a very rough place as
the trees are fell every way and the stumps are very thick. There are 3 other
regiments camped on the same hill near us the 32 & 60 Ohio & the
Garabaldi guards a N.Y. Regt They are all badly demoralized and number but about
450 men to a Regt. We are in Gen Piatts Brigade and Popes division and since I
have commenced writing I have had an introduction to Gen Piatt by Col. Stannard
his Head Quarters are but 10 rods from us. He is fortifying this hill by
throwing up embankments and mounting heavy Guns and notwithstanding our Regt
were nearly fagged out 46 men were taken from each co
for labor and
16 men for guard duty I think this pretty well for guard Sunday.
Lieut. Jewett is out on picket and I am Capt of the whole guard, having the
supervision of about 400 men and 8 Lieuts and I find that every thing is carried
on on a dif plan from what it was in our first regiment, This country is a sorry
looking place and if this war should last 3 years more I would not give much for
Va. I so far have stood it first rate and I think I will be tough if I take good
care of myself We get very good living when we get into camp but on the move we
have had hard fare and hard beds our living being wholly of hard bread. and our
beds the floor of freight cars. Sartwell is with us in the tent and makes a good
hand for us All the boys from Swanton are well and but one or
two of the whole Co are unfit for duty Harry Meigs is well and makes a good
sargeant I spoke to him about sending his likeness home whether he has or not I
dont know While since I write the above my guard have brought in 6
Rebel scouts they are rough looking customers and one of them makes believe
crazy but they will bring him around to his senses soon I think for I have just
detailed six [Supernumaries] to go and dig a grave for him (so
I suppose) I got a letter from you day before yesterday at Washington that being
the only letter I have had for some time I will write more soon- I would like
much to see you and the children, but no one knows when that time will come.
Kiss the children and that pa thinks of them often Give my love to all
Yours aff Val