New Middletown, Va. Aug. 14th, 1864.
Dearest Wife,
I hardly know at which end of this march to commence this letter, but think I will begin where I left off. Well, in a few minutes after I sent off my last, Aug. 9th, went on picket. Did not go back to camp, but started to go up the Shenandoah Valley. I had a paper put up to send and told you where we were going, but had no chance to send it until yesterday. We followed and the rebels retreated, the cavalry occasionally skirmishing, occasionally a reb killed or wounded and quite often a few captured. Came through Charlestown, where John Brown was hung on the 10th. On the 11th in the forenoon left Berryville about a mile on the left. Next day in the forenoon passed through Newton, then Middletown, and came through it about a mile and a half, and slept that night within a few feet of where I am now and where I slept last night. When we came into this position night before last the rebs and had made a stand, and skirmishing was going on quite brisk in our front on hill about 2 miles in our front they had a battery. Gave us a shot occasionally. They fired 8 shots. Our folks had one gun in position and fired a few shots, but no one was hurt. There was but little damage done among the skirmishers. We expected to be sent in but were not. In the morning we advanced, no rebs in sight. Went about 2 miles and halted. Our skirmishers followed them up through Strasburgh and found them in position beyond town. We were in the woods about 2 miles from Strasburgh, pronounced Strawsburgh. I went out where I could see the town and both skirmish lines. They were occasionally shooting at one another, but I reckon from their distance did not hit one another. At dark there was a picket detail from our regiment. It came with one name of mine. It took Tinkham. They are now skirmishing with the rebels. Don’t hurt one another.
I went over to the 10th which lay within four rods of us to see Zopher. He was on picket. Had a good visit with Bruce, the one that married the Lawrence girl. Talked with him of home and wife and children for a couple of hours. Liked him much. Will bet that he will enjoy home when he gets to it again. Reckon he always did, but orders came to pack up and be ready to fall in so I ran home and found the 6th all packed up, but we did not start off very quickly. Had time enough. Marched back to this place where we are now.
2 o’clock P.M. We are on a hill facing the enemy in the front line. Can give you the precise location. You see the Shenandoah has no branches of any size until you get to a stream what enters it at Front Royal or near it. We are on a hill 30 or 40 rods north of that stream (have washed in it today myself a shirt and three stocking, which is all I have and had to wash them carefully, or the feet would have washed to pieces) about 3 ½ or 4 miles from Strasburgh, about 2 miles East of a line running due north of S-H. Don’t have an idea what we shall do. Think the movement last night was to draw the rebs out, then we will whip them. They act as if they were trying to coax us up. In that case we are sure to go back in a hurry.
The stream that runs in front of us is called Cedar Creek. It is the size of Clyde River at Derby. You may notice where it turns and runs south. Well, we are right there. I sent that paper, put on the date one day too fast, put on Strawsburgh, for at the time was near that town. Had no chance to write a word wince I left Harper’s Ferry. It has been a snug march. I must quit for today, as there will be no mail out tomorrow morning and will wait for events to develop themselves.
http://goo.gl/maps/wo3qJ …in case you want to visualize the terrain
The transcript says “New Middletown” but the handwriting might have said “Near Middletown”
