1862 July 16 Camp Green Meadows

                  Camp Green Meadows
Dear Father
               I received a letter
from you last saturday
with programme of exercises
at the academy
on saturday sabbath morning we
left camp down on Flat Top
and marched 14 miles down
towards the New River to
this place.  We are now
camped on a fine farm
having entire possession as
the proprietor have left
the camp is a very pleasant
one but the name is I
think rather an extravagant
one the fields being
overgrown with grubs
& a find of blackberry
called Dew berries, but the

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greatest blessing is
we have good water
I should certainly be willing
to give one thousand at
last to have such a spring
as we have here transferred
to the yard at home
We remained in Camp
Monday but yesterday
morning (Tuesday) we went
down to the river at
Pucks Ferry where for some
time past 4 companies of our
Regiment have been stationed
We went down to see
them the distance is almost
6 miles. 4 companies went
down we had a fine time
& returned the same
evening
The road to the river is
a very pleasant one
winding down through

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deep ravines to
The ferry is a well
arranged and is propelled
by the current of the river.
It is quite a novel affair
and will carry a large
load I guess it will
carry 4 companies at once
I will try and describe
how it is arranged
First. a large frame or
box filled with stones
is sunk in the middle of the river
about 300 yds above
where the ferry is intended
to be placed a string of
well braced post extends
above this frame or box
to which is attached the
cable which secures the
boat this Cable is suppor-
ted down to the boat
by some 10 floating buoys

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in the shape of small
canoes, the cable is now
attached to the centre of
the boat (a large flat
bottomed affair) about 100 ft
from the boat two large
ropes are attached to the
cable & extend to windlasses
affixed to the ends of the
boat by tightening or
slacking these ropes the
boat is thrown around
so that the current strikes
against the side and
drives it across quite
rapidly too
The river at the ferry
is I should think about
200 yds wide
There are no indications
at present from which to judge
what we will do next
Yours Truly J D Templeton

James Dinsmore Templeton, private and musician in the 23rd Ohio

MSS 10317