1861 August 26 Camp Vernon

Respected parents and friends

I again seat
myself to write the news I have nothing very
important to write I thought as it was my
birth day I would try and write you wanted
in your last letter to know if needed any thing
I believe I do not need any thing that you can
send me unless you could send me some flag
root in a letter I lost mine it was in my
knapsack I had a small piece in my pocket
and I have not used it all yet we had
one shirt coming to our tents crew and we
drew lots for it and I drew it so I have
two now our new clothes have come and we
shall have them given out in a few days
we are still at work on the fort and we have
begun to cut the woods down six men goes
every day into the woods and of our company
there is about two hundred in the whole
that goes into the woods besides the guard

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our sick ones are getting better Keen has
got so to walk out a little but he loos as
though he could not live long but he may
get well again the rest of the sick belonging
to this company are doing nicely I think
that two or three will get discharged as they
are not fit for duty. Tell Washington he
had better not enlist to come out here if he
wants to ever so much for t his is a bad
climate for any one with a caugh like him
we have warm days and very cold nights
when it rains here it comes down steady and
hard, the thunder showers are very heavy the
natives here say that the sickliest part of
the season is past if we are carefull and not
get the fever and ague they say the northern
people are apt to have it about here. Capt Tobie
returned here last Thursday to take command
of his company again and we was very
glad to see him again but I do not think
he will be able to stand the climate his
health is not very good, Lieut Bucknam
is now sick he has not been on duty for two

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or three days they say t his morning he is
very sick I do not know what is the
matter with him. I should not wonder if
we had reengagements with the rebels before
a great while one brigade composed of five regts
has marched twords the reels encampment
this morning I suppose with the intention
to attack them we shall know in a few
days our brigade has passed in review before Gen
McLellan I think he is noble and brave man
and he will meet with success I have no
kind of doubt the army place full confidence
in his skill and judgment. I think
befor many days we shall have plenty
of news and then there will be
something to write

Yours in hast
Hiram M. Cash

Private Co K 5th Maine

William A. Tobie, Captain Co. K, 5th Maine
Hamlin T. Bucknam, 1st Lieutenant and later Captain Co. K. 5th Maine
MSS 12916