Clermont VaAug 7 1861Dear William

Page 1

Your letters were sent to me from Washington under EP Waltons frank the other day, and where Better is I don’t know. But am going to Washington tomorrow, and if they are there will try and see them. We have been expecting orders to join the Vt 3d every day for a week but dont as yet get them. They are at the Chain bridge Georgetown heights, Some seven or eight miles from Washington. We are awfully sick of these Maine fellows and shall be glad to move anywhere though we dont hardly like to move back to the Washington side of the river. We like this advanced post We have to put one company on picket and one company on guard every day, and have two company drills and on Battalion once daily. That you will see keeps us pretty busy. this idea of having a company is new for us, but is a pretty good one. The Capt is “Officer of the Day, and the lst Lieut. “Officer of Guard". We were on yesterday, it made Gregg sweat. I made him do his share of work and I reckon he will get so he can

go it pretty well. I was on a court of inquiry three or four days last week, and he had to take command then. Our boys are in bad condition, many of them sick but not dangerously. The sick are Warden, Fuller, Brown, Platt, W Gilman & Thurston, with Atkins, Shoneo & Gilman not fit for duty These are “regulars” the “transient” swell the list so that we dont go out with more than half a company, at any time. I wish I could have a dozen discharged and get new recruits in their places.

Coporal Huntly died very suddenly Friday he was around the camp not feeling very well & complaining of sore throat. Sunday he was dead. Monday Dow died, of the same disease “Malignant Sore Throat” he was sick a week or more, and was getting better when Huntley died but he imedeatly got worse and dropped off the next morning. They or their remains are embalmed and I shall try and get them started for home Thursday night or Friday morning I have made Sleeper “Coporal” in place of Huntley, without consulting the Company at all, he has done his duty promptly since we came to Washington and I think deserved the promotion.

The boys all inquire for you

every time the mail comes in and will welcome you back with open arms.

We have news that the Enemy are advancing upon us in three divisions, and we are drummed up nearly every night by false alarms. - to night we expect the real one. Shall have to run.

I have no time to write more to day My respects to your family and friends

Write as often as you can

Yours fraternally,Chas Dillingham