150 Years Ago (1864 7/20)

Snicker’s Gap, July 20^th,
1864.

Dear Wife,-

Here I am just in the mountains. I wrote you Sunday when we laid back near Leesburgh. We have no mail now. Was detailed yesterday for cattle guard. The letter that I had written I gave to Asa Moran, as the 8^th Vt. lay near our cattle and mails might go out and I know nothing about it, as we lay generally in some out of the way place with the Beeves that belong to our brigade. The third division came up Sunday. You can judge how anxious I was when they passed us, for the 10^th Vt. came and Zopher among them all right, as you have probably heard before this time. We left Monday morning, came on by an easy march through the Gap and camped. The troops remained in the same place yesterday and I suppose are there now. The cattle were there then. Our forces are near the river. Last night just at dark got orders to take the cattle back into the mountains but not through. We got here just on the East side of the Ridge at 11 o’clock and are here now. It is now 8 o’clock A.M. How long we are to remain I know not. Most of the wagon train is near us. The air, the same as it was Sunday, is full of rumors. When we got through the mountains there was a little fighting going on across the river. As we had a small force across the river there were a few shots fired and a good many shells fired from the heights on this side. Moseby would like to capture our train if he can. Don’t think he can unless they depend on hundred days men and they are sure to run. Our movements are uncertain. I suppose the object is to watch the enemy, follow them cautiously, and see which way they go. They are equally cautious. Once in a while we peck at them a little, but among these mountains a great deal of caution is necessary. If we go through a small force can hold one of these gaps, and we might be in a bad fix, as we cannot live upon the country, as there is little except grass, and it is a fine country everywhere here too, except right in the mountains. The country we passed through Monday is beautiful. There have been no houses burned or but very few, most of them were brick or stone and very nice, but nothing growing; from where I am now, can look to the East and the Valley with here and there a farm house with is broad acres stretching away to the East and South East to the Bull Run Range of Mountains or Hill, but there is but little growing there seem to be many men about, but there is little encouragement to sow for others to reap. The women are very outspoken in their sentiments, either Union or Secesh. We pick up a few beeves and there are some hogs. The beef is generally confiscated, and the boys kill their own share of the hogs. 

There was one house that we passed Monday where there were two of our wounded men, The owners had taken them in, and insist upon taking care of them. He had a mare that if he were Union or Secesh would go pretty quick if it were not for those wounded men. He was offered five hundred dollars for her… He kept her out of the way of the Rebs. The dry weather continues, no rain, the streams all low, that enables the Rebels to move with a facility that they could not at the ordinary stage of the water. After we came here last night laid down with a blanket. They were rolled up and tied to the heads of the oxen, and slept finely. The grass is finely hayed and the ground is so warm that it does not get cool during the night. This is one of the severest droughts ever experienced in the country. The weather here is not exceedingly hot. The air seems so fresh and pure all the time. It is very different from Petersburgh. I have not heard a syllable from there since we left. Know nothing about anything that is going on in the world, but we can manufacture any sort of news at five minutes notice. I do not know as any of it gets out into the world. One hour we are surrounded by the rebels, the next the Rebels are all cut to pieces by the cavalry or some division of some Corps, when perhaps the division lies within a few rods half the men asleep and the rest amusing themselves in any way they see fit. I can see nothing but peace and quietness, trains in park or moving quietly along, without doubt there are guerillas enough in these mountains and if they had a chance would strike. Should like to have a pop at Mosby myself, but I am out of the ring while I remain with the cattle. The last guard were on 14 days, sometimes it is longer and sometimes shorter. There were many of the boys that wished to swap with me. I had rather remain with the Regiment, but this is easy duty, sometimes hard, but on the whole very easy. One great point is making an ox carry a tent and blanket. Brooks Clark did a big thing. Didn’t he?

We have moved about half a mile upon to the side of the mountains to get away from the trains right now below us is just such a place as that upon you father’s where those apple trees are, and the apple trees are here and loaded with apples, and as we drew three days ration of sugar last night are calculating to have some green apples for dinner if we remain here. Have seen but few ripe ones yet. Found a few Monday but there is any quantity of green ones. This would be a fine fruit country, but there has been no pains taken with it. See some gardens overrun with grape vines, but war, desolating war, leaves everything a waste. Hunter has desolated everything in route to and from Lynchburg. The rebels are not so bad upon a country as we are. I think they burned but little in Maryland, but took the cattle and horses pretty clean where they found them. How I wish our ranks were full. Hope the government will take measures to fill up the Regiments. Richmond must fall. Grant says that he has men enough there. As I had much rather be up here, but the States of Maryland and Pennsylvania must be protected, or the Rebs will keep their mouths full, and it is much better to take a place by pinching want than storming breast works though it be successfully done. I have seen orrin Bartlett. I have forgotten that he was here until I saw him in Washington and have seen him since out here. He is well, and it seems that he did not take that trip to Georgia that most of the company took. Am very glad on his mother’s account as well as his own. It was a sad affair, and many of the boys were quite unwell at the time. It will likely go hard with them. The last letter I received from you was before I left City Point. I expect to have some when we get a mail. Until that time shall wait with patience. Shall continue to write the same as though we had a mail and shall leave the letters with the company to be sent when there is a chance. Yours in love and affection,

Charles.