Dear Wife,
I take this moment to inform you that we are all well. We expect to go the Clevland today. I have my fotograph taken, which I send to you. We expected to get to come home today, but the orders was countermanded and we cant get no ferlow now. We expect to go to Fortress Monro. Give one of my pictures to Jane and one to brother. No more at preasant. I'll write again when we stop again. I can't tell whare my postoff. will be yet.
Yours,
Saml. McClain
L.A. McClain
children
P.S. We expect to go to Camp Chase to rendavous. I was just down to the railrode and saw the 68 Regt. go threw. It is unsertain whare we will go yet. I expect that it will be impossable for me to get home on Saturday. Tell Laura & Libby & Annie to be good girls\r & kiss Willie for me. Will give my postoffice address as soon as I get to our destination.
Yours,
Saml. McClain
We left Perysburg yesterday at 5 in the eavening and arived at this place at 6 o'clock this morning. All well. We are camped in the barrak but we are under marchen orders at this time. We expect to go to Camp Chase soon. I would of come home on ferlow from Perysburg if I had of known that we had to move so soon, but the ferlow is played out for a while. I'll not finish this until we move to camp.
May the 8
Moved to camp. All in camp safe and sound. We will be musterd in to the U.S. servis today. It is roomered that we will be sent to fortress Monrow. Thare are about 20 thousand men in this camp now. Thare about seven hunderd Reb prisiners in camp. I have but little to write until we are musterd to the servis. When you write, direct to S. McClain, Camp Chase, Co.D, 64 Batalion O.V.M. in care of Capt. John McKee. Forward.
I must close for the mail is agoing out. Write soon.
Saml McClain to wife & family.
P.S. Direct as above.
Dear Wife and Family,
We arived at this place today, the 15. We left Camp Chase on Thursday. We ware on the road four days. We came the same road that we came from New York. We had good luck with the exception of one man fell off the cars and was killed instantly. He was from Wiandot County. He belonged to our Regt. We got the prais of being the best Regt. that ever past threw Pittsburg. We had a good supper in Pittsburg & in Harisburg and in Baltimore. Also we past threw Baltimore without any trouble. It is a big place. We got our arms in Columbus. I got a drum and Finly Barton is piper, so we will have no gard to stand. We are in a fourt and live in a barax. This fourt is situated on Chesipeak Bay, you can see by refuring to map. We can see the vessles in the harber. It looks like old times. That all tonight.
I lit my candle tonight to write a little more. I wrote to you from Camp Chase & also from Columbus. I sent you a map. We expect to stay here in this fourt for some time. It is a pleasant place. We are all well with the exception of Henry Barton. We left him in Baltimore. I sent my overcoat home with John Clark to Westfield to Tailors Store. If you get a chance, send out for it. I drew a blanket and thought that I would not need it. I just now killed a bedbug and thare are lots of lice in the barax. Turn over good night.
Supper over and I'll finish tonight, for the mail leaves early. I have not had my close off since I left home. I received four letters that you sent with Mr. Scott and was glad to hear from home\r & to get the hankerchief & to hear that you was all well. We ware welcomed all along the road by the women & children, the white hankerchief & flags waved in all dyrections. In Baltimore thare are about as many blacks as thare are whites, all mixed together. I can't see it. Marlind is a fine looken state, but the women is not as good lookin as they are in Wood Co.
When you write, direct to
Saml. McClain
Fort McHenry, M.D
144 Regt O.V.I Co.I
in care of Capt. John McKee
Our Company is changed to Co.I. Kiss the children for me, tell them to be good...[illegible]
[LETTER FRAGMENT] Camp Parole, May 18, 1864
We are all well at presant, with the exception of H. Barton & S. Jankins we are
P.S. Write soon
S. McClain to
Laura McClain
[No.6] Camp Parole, Annapolis, M.D.
May 25, 1864
My Dear Wife,
I seat myself this pleasant morning for the purpose of writing you a few lines, but I am sory to say that I don't write this letter in anser to any letter that I have received from home, for I have not received any as yet, but I am looking every moment for one. I am grown very ancious to hear from home. This is the sixth letter that I have wrote home. I sent my picture in one of them to you. I wrote a letter to John a few days ago. When you write, let me know John's postoffice adress, also Aunt Elisabeth McClain's postoffice in Jeferson County. I want to write to her.
I can say that my health is good and I am thankful for it. Thare are sevarls of the boys in our company that are on the sick list, but non dangerous. One of our men was sun struck, but is giting better now. We left Henry Barton in Baltimore sick. I have not heard from him since.
This is a very pleasant place here. We received one company of reinforcements today. We will get along some better now.
Capt. McKee just now come in with a lot of letters for the boys, but Sam did not get any. I was so mad that I puled one hair rite out of my head. I hope I will soon get one, for I am ancious to know how you all are giting along & how father and Will is giting along with the work. I would rather be thare with them to help do the work than to be here. We can't do much good hear for ourselves nor no one else. I like soldering very well if it ware not that my thoughts are always on my duty at home and I always have fears that som of my family are sick or not injoying themselves as I would like to have them do. If I could know all the time that all was well at home I could injoy myself better, but that is impossible, so I have to do the best that I can under the sircomstances and hope that all are well. I hope that this wicked and uncald for rebelion will soon be to an end so we can come home whare our preasants are so much needed.
I was down to the Capital of this state yesterday to see the place. It is situated on the Cesipeak Bay about 20 miles east of Washington. It is a miserable looking place. The streats are so narow that 2 wagons can hardly pass on the streats. I saw clover out in ful bloom in the medows. They will mow next weak heare. They have not planted corn here yet. The woods are as green here now as in Wood Co. in July.
As Findley Barton & myself ware coming from the city yesterday, we could hear the cannons firing on the Potomac near Washington very plain. I can't till wheather it was a battle or good news. I calculate to go to Washington some of these days to see the place & see Abe Link.
I will not finish this letter ontil I get one from home. I hope that I'll not have long to wait. I'll stop now ontil we go out and practis on the drum awhile. So good bye.
[May] 26.
No letter yet, but I hope that I'll get one tonight. It is araning all day here. I must tell you what we have to eat. We have pleny such as it is. We have fresh bread, beef, pork, potatoes, molasses, rice, beans, beets, vinegar, peper, salt and coffee, sugar, etc., but not all at one time. I get plenty to eat. Some of the boys grouls about it, but if they had to eat what I have had to eat they would be satysfied.
Findley Barton & myself have very easy times. We have to practis three hours per day, the rest of the time we can do as we please, but the rest of the boys have prity hard times. Will may be glad that he did not come, for he could not perform the labor that is to do here. They boys have to stand gard all night. I have no garding to do.
May the 28.
Pleasant morning. I am happy to say that last night Capt. J. McKee came in at 9 o'clock last night and brought severls letters to the co. and I was one of the luckey ones. You can't imagion how glad I was to hear from home. Your letter bore date May the 22. Tell Nan & Jane that I am truly glad that they thought enough of Sam to drop him a line. I have not got your first letter yet. I was glad to hear of my friends all bin well. I was glad to hear that my boy is agrowing so fast. I feel much better since I heard from home. I hope that I'll get letters regular now. Your letter come threw in 5 days. I wrote a letter to Laura on the 25. I sent in it 2 brest pins & one pair of sleeve butons. I also sent her a paper. I sent my picture to you some time ago. I expect you have received it ear this. I want you to writ all abot the farming next time you writ if you plese.
We are orderd to have all our bagage & knapsacks & equipage on this morning at 8 o'clock for revue & inspection. 10 o'clock a.m. Just returned from revue & our drum corps are all right. We have bin cleaning our quarters this morning. We are quarterd in a building 85 feet long and 25 ft. wide. We have to keep the barax nice and clean or go to the gard house. We keep everything nice. You know that I am a nice man, thats whats the matter.
Fin B. is my wife. We sleep togather and eat togather & talk togather. Fin did not get any letter. He feels bad about it. He is a writing today. Eugene Bassett did not get any letter. He is well, you tell his folks. Tell John Kolen that his man is all right. James Kerr is well & giting along fine. I. Vanhorn is well.
I am making some rings. I'll send them in my next letter. I could get lots of things to send home, but we can't send them threw the gard. I can get blankets here for one dollar a piece. I'll try to bring some home with me. We have 18 days of our time in today. Our time will be out on the 18 day of August next. I expect we will stay here ontil our time is out. Now Lucinda, if you are punctual in writing often to me often the time will pass of faster and more pleasant. Believe me it makes me feel happy to hear from home and to hear about my wife & little ones, for they are on my mind all the time. I am not home sick, but it would be more pleasant to be at home with my family than to be here in this old slave state.
If I have good health all the time the time will soon pass. If I could only do my work at home and stay here to, I would be contented, but I am all the time thinking that father & Will has to much to do etc. and I can't help them to do it. You must not pitch in to the work to strong and get sick. Take as good care of yourself as you can under the sircumstances & be sure and take good care of the babies. Be sure and give my boy all that he can eat ontil I come home and than I will take charge of him myself. You must do the best that you can and I'll do the same. You must let the rest see this letter. My respects to all. My love to you and the children. Kiss Willie & Annie for me. Please write soon & often. I know that you have a poor chance to write, but do the best you can and I'll be satysfied.
I will bring my letter to a close by biding you all good bye. Excuse all mistakes.
From your husband,
Saml McClain
to L.A. McClain
and babyes to.
P.S. Direct Camp Parole, Anapolis, M.D.
Co.I 144 Regt. O.N.G. in care of John McKee
[No.9] Camp Parole
May 30, 1864
Dear Lucinda,
This morning I'll endever to pen a few lines in answer to yours which came to hand, but not in due time. It lay over at Ft. McHenry some time, but it has come at last. I was glad to get it, for it gave me information about the planting of the corn etc. I have not as yet received the letter that you said the children had wrote apeace in. I hope it will yet come threw, for I would like to read it.
Fin and myself got a pass yesterday and went out and went to the Chesipeak Bay and took a swim. We went threw a old slave holders farm. It was a hard looking farm. We went to the house to by some bread to eat, for we ware hungry and a good ways from camp. When we got to the house the darkeys came out and said to us "hous do sa". We told them that we wanted some bread. They said they had nothing but de cow cake to eat, so we did not by any. We went to camp. The darkeys run away from their masters and comes into camp and we keep them to sweep & to cook for us and when Massa comes for darkey we don't let darkey go. We tell Massa to go home. Most all the sitisons are Rebs about here. Fin and me found some cows in the woods. We tryed to milk some of them, but they would not stand for us, for they are always bin milked by darkeys and we ware not quite black enough yet for dad.
June the 1.
This is a pleasant morning. I will give a description of this camp. Thare are 2 hundred and twenty buildings and they are all the same sise and all built aloke and all the same sise. The sise is 85 ft. long & 35 wide. The camp is laid out in streets as nise as a city. It is a butiful camp. I begin to like the place. We have plenty of good water to drink. Thare is several good springs. I think this is a healthy place. I am expection a letter today with your fotygraph in it. I wrote to you day before yesterday and sent the children some rings in the letter. I will answer every letter that I get and you do the same. Write soon and don't forget nothing more. My love to all. I am well. I hope this will find you all well.
S. McClain to
L.A. McClain & babies.
P.S. I send a ring in this.
Letter no. 10 Camp Parole, M.D.
June 3, 1864
Dear Lucinda,
I'll commence this letter to you today, but I'll not finish it ontil I get one from home, for I answered the last one that I received. I wrote a letter to David Hanna yesterday. I am writing this in the chappel. This paper & envelope are give to us by the chaplin of this camp. He furnishes us a room to write in & ink, pen, and paper all free of charge. We have meeting every night and every Sunday. I was to church last Sunday. The house was crowded with soldiers and only three women thare. It looked rather hard. I thought of home. I thought what a vast difference in this place and at home. Here all men and no women, thare all women and no men. Thare is women in camp every day, half white & half black. This state is composed of Negroes, dogs & fools & Rebs. The women are all so fetched homely, old Laura McCary is a fair spesimen of the femails that live in this country. You need not be afraid of me a bothern any of them, for I don't feel any ways inclined to. I must tell you my dream. I dreamed that I was at home & that we had started to California and that we had a plasant voyage on the ocean and landed safe in Cal., but I awoke and found it a mistake.
My health is good at this time. All the boys that are from Beaver Creek are well. I am injoying my self as well as possible. I am a looking for a letter and a photygraph in it. I'll feel very much disapointed if I do not get one tonight. Thats whats the matter with Same. I am becoming somewhat attached to this camp. If I could only get a letter from home every few days I could content myself very well, for I have but very little to do. I have all night to sleep and most all day to play if I choose. I am a giting lazy as a dog. I fear that it will spoil me. Thats whats the matter.
I'll write to Laura tomorrow. You must let all the friends see my letters, for I can't write to all of them. Tell I.I. Vorhes that I will answer a letter if he will write to me. Now I will bring my scribbling to a close, for I expect I have wored your patiens alredy with my nonsence. Excuse me this time. Write soon. Your affectionate husband.
Saml McClain to
his wife & babyes 3
Will remain hear for some time yet. This is Lauries. I want Laura to write to me. I have wrote 2 letters home since I come here.
Direct to S. McClain
Co.I, 144 Regt. O.N.G. in
care of Capt. John McKee.
S. McClain
Letter no. 10 Camp Parole
June 4, 1864
Dear Lucinda,
I received you very kind & welcome letter. I received it last night at 8 o'clock. Believe me Lucinda I was glad to hear from home and to heare that you and the children ware all injoying good health, for as long as you and the babies are well and I can heare from you often I can content myself. I don't want to be hogish, but I would like to get a letter very often and I will answer every letter that I receive and some times I'll write one between times, for you said that you was lonesome and a letter from me cheers you up, so I'll endever to make you as comfortable as I can under the surcumstances in which I am placed, for I have a good chance to write here and I'll embrace every opertunity.
I will write often to you and you will please write often to Sam. You said that you was all most sick for a letter. Well, if a letter will keep you from getting sick I'll endever to furnish you with the medison as long as I am able to write. I can get plenty of the material here to make the medison and I'll send it threw every opertunity. I am redy and wiling to do all that I can to make you & the children comfortable & happy. You also said that you would like to see me. I don't dout your word in the least, judgen you by my self, for I would be very happy to see you and the little ones and to talke to you, for I could talk better than I can wright, but we are deprived of that privlage at preasant, so we will have to be contented by conversing threw the medium of pen and paper ontil the time arives when we will be privelaged to talk face to face. The time will soon roal around if we are blessed with good health, so we must do the best that we can under the sircumstances.
I hear of a grate many reports in sirculation in Wood Co. about us all bin sick & that we ware attacked by the Rebs & getting killed and wonded & all kinds of reports. You must not give head to those reports, for I'll give you all the news as they occur. We are in no danger here of being atacted by the Rebs. You are in more danger thare than we are here, for the Coperheads is a numerous thare as they are here. You need not be uneasy about us, for we are in no danger at all. We sleep as sound as tho we ware in old Wood Co.
You said that you was afraid that your letter would not come threw. I think if you will put on the directions all right it will come threw all safe. I received four letters from you since I came to this place. You must send your picture. It will come threw all right. You must risk it, for I want it bad. You must send it or come yourself. I would rather have you come, but I expect that I will have to do with the picture for a while at least. Your letter was dated May 30 and 31. You said that Laura had just got a letter from me. I sent some things in her letter. Let me know if she got them or not. If she got them I'll send some more to her.
I was glad to get that rose that you sent to me. I will send to you in return a little branch of live oak which grows hear spontainously. I am glad to hear that Will is doing so well on the farm. Twll me in your next how the stock is giting along, etc. and how your provisions are houlding out. I want you to have plenty to eat & ware.
We expect to draw som money this month. If we do I'll send you some. I must close for I want to write to John today & I want to go out and get some cherys & Mullberys, so good by.
Yours truly
Saml McClain
to L.A. McClain and family
Oh yes, write often if you please. Yours til deth. S.M.
Letter no. 13 Camp Parole, Annapolis, Md.
June 11, 1864
Dear Lucinda,
With pleasure I seat myself this morning to answer your kind and welcom letter which came to hand yesterday baring date June 6. It convaied to me glad tidings of your good health and also the good health of my dear little children. I am so glad to hear that you all are giting along so well. I can content myself here if I can honly hear that my little family is well & injoying themselves. The time is slowly waring away. Today makes 32 days of our time we have bin trying to serve our country. You said that it was the opinion of some that we would not get to come home when our time expires. Don't fear, we will get to come as soon as our hundred days has expired, if not sooner. We ware sworin in for the turm of one hundred days if not sooner discharged, so you see they can't keep us any long. I expect that the coperheads would like if we would have to stay. The infernal coperheads will have to keep quite when we get back, for the boys have swor vengences on them. Thare is a heavy draft going on in this state now. Thare is drafted men pasing here every day with handcuffs on, going to the front. This state did not rais her coto [quota], so they had to be raised by drafting and than the bugers won't go on til they are compeld to go.
Capt. McKee was to Baltimore and brought Henry Barton to camp. He looks well. He was very sick for two weeks, but he is all sound now.
I have received 8 letters from you, for which I am much obliged to you for. I have answered all of them promptly. My health is good at this time and I hope that when this reaches you it will find you all injoying a like blessing. May the Lord keep and preserve you all is my prayer. Tell Laura that I'll write to her soon. Tell Liby & Annie & Willie that I think of them every hour and would like to have a play with them, but they must wait on til I get home and than we will have a big time. Lucinda, I write to you day before yesterday. I write about 3 letters to you per week. I want you to write to me as often as you can. I know that you have not as good a chance to write as I have, so do as well as you can and I'll be satysfied.
I'll bring my letter to a close. Give my respects to all the friends. My love to Father's folks, my love to you & the children.
S. McClain
L.A. McClain
Supper over and all right. I'll have nothing to do for a day or two for I have bursted my drum head in, so I will have to wait on til I get it mended. We are quarted in a good house & good bunks to sleep in. The boys are all buisy writing home. Tell father that I saw Adam Swinehart in camp. I hear he lives near thare. He is from Holmes Co. He told me to send his best respects to father. He is a soldier. You must let father and mother see my letters, for when I write to one I mean all.
The weather is very warm here now. We have had considerable rain here. Crops in this county look worse than Wood Co. I saw peas in bloom today & corn up. This is a mountainous country. The timber is pine and very scruby at that...[illegible]
Camp Parole, Annapolis, Md.
June 17, 1864
Dear Lucinda,
I received your very kind letter last evening, dated June 12. I was truly glad to hear from home and home friends and also glad to hear my little family was enjoying good health, one of the greatest of blessings that can be bestoed upon us in this world. I am truly happy to say that my health is exceedingly good, never better in my life. I am very thankfull to the giver of all good and perfect gifts. The health of the company is good, with the exception of S. Holder and H. Barton & Auston Bassett. They are in the hospitle, but not dangerous. James Kerr is all right again. If any of the boys are sick I will mention their names, so if their friends ask you conserning their health you can tell them. I want you to do the same, for as soon as I get a letter the boys all ask me how the folks are & if my wife said anything about thare folks & so on etc.
It is very warm today. I have just returned from a tramp in the county. I got a pass this morning & Fin and me went out in to country 2 miles to get cherys and we got on to a old Rebs ranch\r & he got awful mad and started to the camp to report us to the colonel, but as soon as he left we left on doublequick for the woods and we went to another place and got all we wanted to eat. Than we sliped in to camp & he did not get us that time.
Thare are lots of cherys here and I am bound to have my share of them. The Rebs will have to work the thing sharp if they catch Sam. If they fool with me much some of them will get in to trouble, for I don't think any more of them than I do of a copperhead in Henry County & I just think as much of a coperhead as I do of the Devil.
You said in your letter that you was afraid that we would get catched in a trap. Now don't fret about me & Fin, for you know it is hard to catch an old bird with chaft. We will take care of No.1. As for that chicken, it is all rite. The woman is a union woman. She washes for our boys. She is sound on the goose. I expect I'll have to wait on til I come home to get buiskets & butter & I'll wait on til I get home for the women to, for I can't get any here to suit me, for their eyes are all to sore from some sorce or other. You understand, they come into camp to often to be healthy. They peddle milk and everything else that the soldiers wants. Negro & white women all mixed togather. Thats so.
The picture on the opposite is a fare speciman of Annapolis city. You can see the State House about in the senter of the city. You can recognise it for I maid a small x on the house with ink. Look and see.
L.A. McC.
I always number every letter that I write to you so you can see the number that I write to you. If you will do likewise I can see how many you write and I can tell if I get them all or not. I have received 12 letters up to this date from you. You have don well, you have don better than I have acording to the chance you have to write. Lovly wife I have got, I have, that is so it is. I'll not finish this tonight. I am going out to drill. Good night deary.
Good morning wife. All is well. I am in a hury to finish this, for I bursted my drum head last night and I must make a new one. The boys are all in bead yet. I get up early every morning and sweep the baracks out whil the rest of the boys are asleep. I have wrote three letters to you this week\r & this is the fourth. I also sent you a paper this week. I have not as yet resieved a letter fro I.I. Vorhes. Isaac Brown expects to go to Camp Chase today. I must close for it is nearly breakfirst time and I go to head quarters to get a drum head, so good bye. Take good care of yourself and the children. My respects to fathers. Tell Nane & Hattie I'll write them soon.
Your husband,
Saml McClain
to L.A. McClain & family to
Write soon, don't forget
Dear Wife,
I'll drop you a few lines to let you know that I am well & hope this will find you the same. We are under marching orders. We ware ordered to hold ourselves in readiness to march at a moments notice. We are all ready to march. We have packed up. We don't know whare we will have to go to yet. We are in the 8 Army Corps & Generl Lew Walis. We may go to Martinsburg in this state. Thare was 1500 wounded soldiers come here last night.
I will send this to you this morning. When you next write to me, ad the word Folow the Reg. If we move from this place I'll write to you as soon as I can and give Po office adress. This order may be countermanded & we may get to stay heare yet. I can't tell. We are trying to send a lot of clothes home. If we do, we will send it to Lasky. My bundle will have my name on it. I'll write soon again. Good by for this time.
S. McClain
L.A. McClain and children
Dear Wife,
We are orderd to hold our selvs in readiness to march at a minits warning. I will finish this when we start. I don't know whare we will be ordered to yet. I put this in the postoffice when we start off.
I am well. The boys are packing up now. We are not go for a day or to. I'll write as soon as we stop again. I'll mail this on the road some place. I think we will go to Harpers Fary.
No.24 Camp Parole
July 6th, 1864
Dear Wife,
We are in camp yet, waiting further orders. All well this morning. I am gard drumer today. Thare was about eleven hundred runaway soldiers came in to this camp last night from Harpers Fery. They got scaird and run here. We have them under gard here. We will send them to the front today under gard.
I was wayed today, my wate is 168 lbs. I have gained 8 lbs since I came to Dixie.
July 7.
We left Camp Parole this morning at 2 o'clock. We arived near Harpers Fary at 12 o'clock. We are in battle line at this time awaiting the attact. The Rebs have not made thare appearance yet.
I write this on my drum. We expect to lay on our arms tonight. I'll send this the first chance I get. I think the Rebs will not fight. I'll write soon again. When you write, ad the word Folow the Reg. Good by.
S. McClain to L.A. McClain.
July 8.
4 o'clock. We can hear the battle. We can see them fighting at Harpers Fary. Our men are driving the Rebs. We are 4 miles of the battlefield. If they come here we will give them the best we have in the shop. We are stationed in a small fort on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad near Harpers Fary. I will stop writing ontil morning.
We started after Jonny Rebs at midnight. We marched 14 miles before daylight. I am writing this while we are in battle line. I guess the Rebs are gon. We can't see them. We are at Fredricktown now. We are all well. I write this on my knee. I'll send this in the office today if I can. You need not be scaird. We will be all right. I think I'll write as soon as I can again. We left J. Kerr at the camp.
Write direct to Camp Parole, Folow the Reg.
Samuel McClain to L.A. McClain
July 8.
Ten o'clock. We are yet in line of battle. We are drawed up in a corn field. We are near Fredrickstown in Maryland. I think the Rebs are on the retreat now. I will send this as soon as I can, for I expect you are ancious to hear from me.
3 o'clock. We ware in battle line all day ontil 3 o'clock. Than we ware ordered to fall back. The Rebs was afraid to give us battle. We could see them all the time. We are going after them now. I don't know as we will catch them or not. I am writing a little every chance I can get. I'll mail this as soon as I can. The communication is cut of now. We can't send a letter. Good by tonight.
[July 9]
We marched to [Monocacy] Junction, got thare midnight. We lay on our arms all night. We are atacted this morning. The battle is going on while I am writing this. The shells are flying all round us. Its a very severe ingagment.
2 o'clock. The battle is raging furcly.
4 o'clock. The Rebs are driving our men, oh my God we have to retreat. We are striking for Baltimore. Our men are giting cut all to pieces. The artilry have left. I must go. Every man must save themselvs. We h ve 45 miles to retreat. The Rebs are folowing us, throwing shells.
July 11.
We have arived in Baltimore, or a part of us. We have retreated 45 miles. We marched all night & ontil 2 o'clock the next day. We have had a hard march. My feet are all raw. Thare are a grat many of our men missing yet. Some are wounded and som are taken prisners and some mising. We are expecting som more in every moment. Our Capt. McKee is slitly wounded in the thigh. Wm. Barton is wounded in the leg. They are in Baltimore Hospitle. We have had a hard time. We don't know whare we will be orderd to go yet. I will write as soon again as I can. You must excuse this short letter. The boys are still coming in. Fin Barton is all right. I am well, all but soar feet. My feet are all raw.
Thare are non of our boys killed, but som are taken prisner. You bet I had to git to save my bacon. I saw the battle. I was in full all the time. I the elephant tail. The Rebs had four to our one. The battle was fought at Monoply [Monocacy] Junction. We had to throw all our bagage away & guns. I stuck to my drum and grub. We got no sleep for three nights. I will write ontil we have to start, than I'll put this in the office. Just as soon as we get to our destination I'll write again and give the particulars.
S. McClain
to L.A. McClain
I have not had a letter from home for sometime & can't get one for sum time yet.
Letter No.25 I wrote you yesterday
Ft. Worthington
July 12, 1868 [ie. 1864]
Dear Lucinda,
I seat myself to let you know my wharebouts & wellfare. I am well. We are in a small Fort near Baltimore. Our company numbers 42 men all told. The rest of the company are missing yet. Some are taken prisners & some are wounded & some will come in yet. We ware in a hard battle. Our men ware cut up bad. We marched about 75 miles & fought one battle inside of 3 days. Our men are badly used up. My feet are very sore. We can't hardly walk. We have not got a comisind officer left in the three companys of the 144 that was engaged in the fight. Our Capton is wounded & in the hospitle at Camp Parole. Our 2 lieutenants are among the mising. Wm. Barton is slitly wounded in the leg. He is with the Capton. Yougene Bassett is amissing yet, but he may come in yet.
We have hard times now. We have nothing to eat for several days, but hard tack\r & raw pork, but we can eat that fine if we can get plenty of it. We are now preparing now for another fight. We are mountain some havey guns today. I hardly think the Rebs will atact us here. We are well fortyfied here. It will take a big fource to whip us in this place.
Gingery Boys are all here & sound, the Vanhorn Boys are mising yet. Geo. Kimberlin is mising. The boys that are taken prisner are paroled, but the officers are retained. Our colonel is here. He will so something for us if he can, for we are not fit to go into another battle for we are all worn out. I saw the battle all day. I was detailed to cary back the wounded. Browns Boys are all here. I will send letter of tonight. I expect I have letters in Camp Parole, but can't tell whare we will have to go yet. When you write, direct to Camp Parole and I'll send thare for them. I am ancious to hear from home. I hope I can soon. Write soon to me.
S. McClain
L.A. McClain
I'll write as soon as we get stationed again. Don't fret. I will take care of No. one. S.M.
Letter no.26
Relay House, Md.
July 13, 1864
Dear Wife,
I again endever to drop you a few lines to let you know that we have moved again. We came to our Regt. this morning, whare we expect to stay. We expect to see Jonny Rebs here before long. If they come there we will give them a warm reception. We are 10 miles from Baltimore near Ft. Dix.
July 14.
We are orderd to prepair for to march in one minits warning. Don't know whare we are going to. Isaac Vanhorn came in today. The boys are still coming in. Thare are 20 men gon yet out of our Co. We left our napsacks at Camp Parole & the rest of our things we had to leave on our retreat, so we have nothing but the close on our backs. At night we just lay down like a dog on the ground. We are giting use to it. We can stand it fine.
I am glad our time is coming to a close, for our men can't do much more. 14th we arived in Washington at 4 o'clock and incamped for the night in sight of the White House. 15th we marched threw Washington & also threw Georgetown. We are after the Rebs. We have a hard march. We have only a few of our company with us. Some have not come in yet, some have give out & some are sick. I expect we will have another fight. May the Lord protect us from the dedly misils of war & permit us to return home to our loved ones who are wating our return. I am writing while we are resting on our march. It is a hard way to wright, but I am ancious to let you no whare I am. I can't get a letter from you, for we don't stop long enought to get them. I hain't had a letter for 10 days. I am very ancious to hear from you. When you write, direct to Relay House near Baltimore, Md. Company B, 144 Regt. O.N.G. in care of Capt. Black, Folow the Regt.
We belong to Co. B now as we have no Capton in our co. I'll write ontil I get a chance to send this.
S. McClain
We have bin laying in this valley for two days, a garding the train, wating ontil the army crosses the river. I was out on peaket last night with the boys. We just lay down on the ground at night to sleep without anything under us. We lost all of our tents & blankets, so we have to do without. We can do very well as long as the weather keeps dry. We have splendid dry weather on this march.
Fin & me had a good dinner today. We had fresh pork & hard tack. Some of the boys killed a hog. It was going to bite them and they had to kill it.
11 o'clock at night we ware orderd to pull stakes & start back for Washington. We marched all night without resting. It is very hard on the boys, for we all have sore feet. My feet are so sore I hardly know which one to limp on. I guess I'll limp on both.
July 21.
This is the third letter that I have wrote since I left Camp Parole. I have wrote to you every opurtunity. When you write to me, direct to Camp Parole, Annapolis, Md., Co.I, 144 Regt., Folow the Regt. We may to to Camp Parole or Baltimore again. I think they will not send us to the front again. We are to go in to Washington today. Don't fret, for I will take good care of my self as possible. I will close by asking you to excuse mistakes. Write soon. Yours til death.
Saml McClain to L.A. McClain & children
July 22.
Noon. We have stoped for dinner. We are the rear gard for the army today. We will get to Washington tonight or in the morning if the Rebs do not cut us off before we cross the Potomac River. As soon as I get to Washington I will mail this.
July 23.
All well this morning. 20 miles to Washington. Our Regt. in advance today. We marched ontil 11 o'clock last night & slept ontil 3 o'clock & then resumed our march. We crossed the Potomac River 6 miles from Washington at 4 o'clock p.m. Incamped 5 miles from the city. I expect we will go to the city in the morning. If so, I'll send this to you to let you know that I am well & my wife is well.
I have very sore feet. I can't tell whare we will have to go to from here. We have bin marching for 17 days and nights with the exceptions of a few hours at a time. Some nights we had to march all night & all day to. We ware fired into by the gorillers one night. We had one man wounded. We are safe now, for we are inside of the fortifications. I hope we will be sent home on the seventh of August. I have seen the elephant's tail, I have.
July 24.
All well. I just received seven letters from you. They came to Washington and we got them this morning. I tell you I was glad to hear from home. They are all old letters, but I was glad to read them. The latest one was dated July the 11. I was glad to hear of your good health.
[Cover: Lucinda, read this to your self if you please and oblige. S.M.]
Camp in battle line, 4 miles from Harpers Fary. All well this eavening. I just finished a letter & sent it to you. I'll comence this & finish it when I can.
Aug. 8.
We ware orderd to move this morning at 5 o'clock. The line of battle is 12 miles long. We have seventy five thousand men with us. I guess the Rebs will show fight this time.
Eavening. We are laying in camp yet, building castels in the air. The boys all gather around Fins & my tent to talk. I am trying to brake the boys of swaring. They have all most quit and I am glad of it, for I am tired of hearing so much of it.
We are giting so used to laying in battle line we don't mind it. We have our fun, as usual.
Aug. 9.
All quite on the Potomac this morning & all well. We are laying in camp near Hall Town, Virginia, 4 miles west of Harpers Fary, Timothy Valley. 20 thousand cavelry come in to camp today. This army is under General Sherdons comand.
This is the day that we ware to start home, but I can't see it. May tent is rite in front of the Generals headquarters. You bet I watch him clost to see if he is making any preperations for us to go home. Can't see any yet. We have only 9 days to serve yet. Our company has to go out on peaket tonight. I guess I'll go out with them tonight.
Eavening. I just received 2 letter from you baring date July 19th & 25th. Believe me, I was glad to hear from home & to hear of your good health & good success on the farm. Our Lieuten. Colonel came to us today. He brot the letters to us. Will & Wils Brown is with us. They are well. Isaac Vanhorn just herd of the death of his little babe. He takes it very hard. I pity him. He says if he had only got to seen it he would have bin satysfied.
The Rebs are retreating is the news tonight. I think we will start home in a day or two.
Aug. 10.
All well. Quite a stir in camp this morning. The troops are all on the move, but our brigaid & we are in camp yet. I hope we will get to move toward home. We sent a pertition to the General to releave us. I don't know if he will or not.
If we have to go on to the front again I'll mail this to you if I can. I got your photograph in a letter. It looks well. I would rather see you if I could, but I'll have to look at the picture a while yet. I look at your likeness very often & also at Annies & Willies. I have caryed them along with me this far & I will cary them as long as I can. It is allmost imposible for me to keep them dry, for I have to cary them in my pocket and I sweat so much. I think more of those pictures than I do of my money.
Fin & me is all alone tonight. The boys have all gone out one peacket. We are giting very dirty & ragit. I hope we will soon det whare we can get some close & get to wash and clean up a little, for we have got more graybacks than greenbacks. We have not had our pants of for 36 days & nights & that is anought to breed graybacks. We have a grayback hunt every day & we always catch a good alownce of gram, but the fur is not worth much in Dixie, so we don't make much out of our game. The meat we can't eat nor sell. I'll not finish this ontil morning. Good night.
Good morning, Aug. 11. All well. Fin & me are keeping house. He have just eat breakfirst. I got breakfirst this morning & I let my wife sleep. We had coffee & hard tack. I have washed my shirt & socks this morning. I give them a cold water rench, for I dispise nastnas you know.
It is rhumord this morning that we are to report to General Lew Walis in Baltimore tomorow. I hope it is so. If the report is true we may expect to be on our road home soon. I'll mail this letter today if I get a chance & write again soon & let you know the news. You must excuse poor writing & spelling, for I have to write on my knee & thare is all kinds of noys going on to bother me, so I have to do the best I can under the sircumstance & you must try and read them if you can & if you can't, just wait ontil I come home & I'll tell you all the news.
I remain yours truly for ever & ever.
Samuel McClain to L.A. McClain & children.
