1861 October 14 Camp Moore Alexandria Va

Dear Sam [Ritter]

We are again on Se-
cession soil--after leaving Phila
on Saturday night week we proceeded
to Washington after laying off in
Baltimore some 9 hours we arrived
at Washington on Saturday late
in the afternoon--taking super
at the Soldiers Retreat & sleeping
that night in the Soldiers Rest
we also took breakfast & dinner
next day at the Soldiers Retreat
the food there was no more to be
compared to the old Cooper
Refreshment Saloon, than brass
is to gold--we left for camp early
in the afternoon, camping about a
mile & half north east of Washington
we were camped there till Saturday with

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nothing of any note happening with but
one exception that was something de-
cidedly novel in military tactics--
we, the commissioned officers & Sergeants
were placed on guard no doubt done
for effect--it was represented to us that
it was because our muskets had not yet
arrived & that the officers were put on be-
cause they had side-arms, that however
did not hold good with the Sergeants
as we had no arms either--it would not
have been very objectional if it had not
rained-it commenced to pour as soon as we
were posted & kept on all night soaking
us through & through which was anything
but agreeable--we left our camp at
Washington on Saturday & arrived
here late at night, being treated to
something very novel for soldiers namely
a steamboat--we took passage on the
Hugh Jenkins & steamed down the Potomac
on arrival Louis was the first one on
shore to the great chagrin of the Colonel

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who was anxious to be the first 3 or 4
our company followed close on his heels
I was one of the first & immediately
set up a cheer for Co. D., the colonel
ordered us back on board, we of course
had to go back--

We are now camped just above Alexan-
-dria as yet without arms--& are likely
to remain here, as our orders are to take
the place of the Jersey 5th (as soon as we
get armed, which will be in a day
or two)--as Provost Guard in town & some
2 or 3 comapanis at Fort Ellsworth
which is some 2 miles from here--
I am sorrow such is the case for it
will keep us far from the armed rebels
for the time being--

I took a tramp through the country
round about--saw a large number
of troops encamped to the west of us
the nearest being at Fort Ellsworth
which is built on a high hill from

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which there is a good view--
There are any amount of secessionists
in Alexandria--but they are mostly
known by our troops & are watched
accordingly--

We saw some troops to day--going up
a road about 2 miles to the west of us
on the double quick--and I have
no doubt there has been fighting
going on some where, we hearing
heavy firing nearly all day--but you
are no doubt better posted on that
score than I am--because we hardly
ever find out what is going on--
papers are very scarce in camp
I saw a few days before we left Alexanda
that Morris had left his old office
but had no time to find out what
had become of him--has he gone
off to the wars too?

Keep a fellow posted up in Philada
news--we almost feel out of the world
and would no doubt feel so completely
if it was not for the work we had
to do--it is nothing but work for me from
sunrise in the morning till Tattoo at
night--so much for being an Orderly
Sergeant
No more for the present. Give my respects
to all
Yrs &c
George E. Wagner

Address me Co. D. Col. McLeans
Regiment Alexandria Va

George Emil Wagner, 1842-1904, of Philadelphia County Pa., began the war as an orderly sergeant with the 88th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry and rose to be Lieut. Colonel of the 9th United States Colored Troops. He was later the keynote speaker at the dedication of the 88th Pennsylvania's Gettysburg monument in 1889.
MSS 11174