1861 August 21 Camp Vernon

Dear parents and friends

I suppose ere
this reaches you the last one that I wrote
before will have reached you and in some
measure relieved your mind. In about two hours
after I maled my last letter the order
came to strike tents and march imediately
which we did as short notice we came to
our new camp in about one hour it is a
good place close under the guns of fort Ellsworth
which I suppose we are to protect if there is an
attack made here our Regt is at work on the
fort strengthening it by diging trenches on the
inside to protect the men in case of battle I
have been there at work 2 1/2 days and expect
to work a number days yet there is a large
body of woods that has got to be cut away
we are expecting 1,000 axes to commence with
we works six hours a day and this will make
us healthy and hearty the men in my tent

[page 2]
say that I am fating up a little at any
rate I feel first rate and have a good
appetite to eat any thing that is furnished
our pickets had a little skirmishing once in
a while the other day our cavelry met the
rebel cavelry our men routed them and drove
them to fair fax our men lost one killed
two wounded and caught a number of prisoners and 5 or 6 horses
the enimys loss is not known we are expec
ting an attack some where on the Potomack but
we do not know where it will be we are pre-
pared for them at this point I do not think
that 100,000 rebels can drive us from this place
this is the general opion about here I can see
from where I am our men at work blocking
up the roads and taking away bridges to pr
event the enimy from crossing the river into
Maryland which they intend to do if they
can but I think they will get disappointed
in the undertaking we have a plenty to eat
and it is good enough we sold two bbls. of beef the
other day belong to our Co. and bought a bbl.
of syrup which is first rat to eat on bredd.

[page 3]
we have meal corn and flour puddings two or
three times a week if I did not recieve so
much by one third, I should have as much
as I could eat. you asked a few questions in
your letter and will answer them the first
way to know if we were coming home in three
months there has been a rumer that we was
coming home in three months but I cannot
say it is true and I hope it is not I know
there is not any one that wants to be at home
any more than I do but it will not suit me
to come home before this question is settled,
if we are to be ordered home I will write
in season to let you know you wanted
to know if George F. I supposed you ment Fred
came of of the battle safe he did come out
safe and sound he was lame and tired
the same as the rest of the men it is not
safe to believe any thing untill you are sure
that you are right I did not know what
you ment by my coming up missing after the
battle we were ordered to retreet each one for
himself and we separated, and come together

[page 4]
and come together again about 5 miles from
the battlefield, there was about 20 of our Regt
with me and we went a straight course to Senterville
with the sentre colume the rest were scattered in
squads all through the woods til we got to
Sentreville where our company got together
and stoped about 3 or 4 hours and then resumed our
march to fair fax and thence to Alexandrea
where we stoped a day or two to rest. I have
received all the letters you have writen seven in
number they have all come direct to me

I have not any more news to write here is some
pictures for Walter and some watermellon
seeds for you to save to plant the mellons
are the largest I ever saw. I expect to have some
money soon and I shall send it home and I want
you to make a good use of it use it for any
thing you need, I return this bit of paper
for you to keep for it was written by our sargent
Smith G. Baley I have seen it before in paper


Hiram M. Cash

Private, Co. K, 5th Maine

MSS 12916