1862 June 26 White House Hospital , Va.

White House Hospital  June 26th/62
Dear Parents

                    It is just one year ago to
day our Regt. left Portland for the
seat of war I never shall forget how the
place looked at the time I saw father
standing by the side of the cars with
some others I new but I did not see
you after you left the camp it has
seemed but a short time to me but
I do not doubt it has seemed long
to you we did not think then the
war would continue so long but we
cannot any of us tell what the future
will bring forth but I feel confident
the was must close soon.  It is a
splendid place here the farm containing
about 7000 acres of very nice land with
a great deal of good timber a great many acres
sowed to grain and a large lot of corn

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planted but it has all been destroyed
by the army the landing here is about
one mile long there is vessels here unload-
-ing provision nearly all the time day
and night then the cars and army teams
take it to the army and I tell you
it makes business lively here the
hospital is about 1/2 half a mile from the
landing in the open field and about
200 rds. from the White House there is
now 200 wards each can accomadate 25
men.  It is a very hea[l]thy place here there
is a cool breeze here the most of the time
the weather here has been quite
warm for some time and it is getting
dry and dusty.  A few night ago we
had a terrible thunder storm it was the
heavist thunder and sharpest lightning
I ever heard or saw I have been to see
a large  chard pine tree the lightning
struck it is about half a mile from
here it tore the bark and splintered
the tree and tore the ground up all
around the tree it is worth going
to see.

Hiram M. Cash,  5th Maine


MSS 12916