Camp Seigle nearWinchester Va.Aug 3, 62Dear Maria

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As today is Sunday and I am off duty I might as well write you a few lines. I have just finished my dinner which was the best to suit me that I have had for a long time it was composed of Bread & milk with Blackberries so you see we can get the luxuries of life here if we do have to buy them of rebels. I dont know as I ever shall hear from home or any where else and to think how our post master was come it over is almost beyond endurance We have not had any mail since we came here and of course a larger number of letters

had accumulated at Washington or somewhere else. They were after a long delay sent here, and the P.M. was bringing them up to camp when a cavalry man rode up and offered to bring the bag up for him, it being very heavy he gave it to him and the mail bag and cavalry man have been missing ever since. and the probability is that some Secesh is to day enjoying themselves looking over the letters you have written for my benefit. I hope yet that it will be brought to light but presume it will not be Since I last wrote to you I have been down town and I find that the City was in times of peace a very pleasant City and a great deal of business done in it though now it looks hard and

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a great number of buildings have been burned the day I went down a large building was for some reason burned to the ground but perhaps it was accidental I went into 6 or 7 houses and was verry politely received and invited to stop and take tea with them but in all cases I begged to be excused not feeling hungry just at that time I dont hardly think they would dare to poison me or any of the soldiers but I prefered not partaking. Yesterday I was officer of the Guard and my duties were not of the pleasantest kind it being abt 1 ½ miles around our encampment and I obliged to go around at least 3 or 4 times during the day and night besides instructing the men in their duties. &c &c

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Lieut Jewett is out on picket to day and in fact we are all of us on some duty about evry day and we have not had a minutes drill since we came here Our fortifications are progressing quite solidly and there seems to be some prospect of getting things in shape for defense before long. I hope to hear from you before long but shall not be disappointed if I dont get a word from any one for a year to come. I attended preaching this forenoon at 10oc and it was very pleasant There were quite a number of ladies present from the City and they joined in Singing which was full as good as we generally have in the M.E. Church at home. Does Carrie attend Sunday School now days and does she learn the verse on her little card and does old Paps strut around in his new pants now days I would like to shake them both do they

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miss me much. How is your health now days and do you know anything about Hattie whether she is going to S- or not I hope she will go it will be so much more pleasant for you What are they doing at recruiting in S- has H. Platt concluded to go and has C. Roby really enlisted I hope he will get a Lieutenantcy if he goes for I think he would make a good one I shall write him I think. I hope the 10th will come on here and encamp near us I suppose Jewett is really as Lieut Col. I would like to see him here in the 10th. You had better keep writing and perhaps we will be more fortunate here after and get occasionaly our mail Give my love to all our folks and I will write again soon.

Your affectionate Val