1862 April 5 Manassas Junction, Va.

Dear parents,

I thought I would write a few lines to day to inform you
that we arrived here safe without any accident that I know of We had
orders yesterday morning to get ready to march I sealed up a letter and mailed
it in about two hours we was called into line expecting to go down river
but to our surprise we were marched to fort Elsworth where we was once
camped close to the rail road in a short time the cars came along and our
brigade got aboard and started we had a grand good ride and passed through
many places where we had been before one was where Wm McLellan was
burried it is about 100 rods from the rail road but we all remember it
quite well and many other places. We got here last night about dark and
pitched our tents for the night where we still remain today I with some
others have been strolling around among the rebels forts at this place
they are badly torn to pieces and the village is entirely destroyed it
is a sad looking place I have been almost to the battle field to day
but I got tired and came back this must have been a splendid place before
it was burned. I have seen a great many places where they burried
their men where one Regt. was camped I counted 37 graves all from S.C.
a few were decently burried others were not some coffins were partly out of
ground This is the third time we have tried to get to this place and
we have finally succeeded I cannot give a very good description of this
place and it does not amount to much any way We are destined to go to
Warrington Station soon but we shall stay here a few days I will write some
more to morrow if I can get a chance.

[letter of Hiram Cash of the 5th Maine Infantry will continue on April 6]

MSS 12916