1862 July 20 Martiinsburg, Va.

 [vignette of McClellan]   
              Martinsburg, Va.
              July 20th, 1862

Friends at Home
                      Your
kind letters are safely
here and I hasten a
reply to them all in
general.  I was glad
to hear that you were
all well and enjoying
yourselves so well.  I am
well and never was any
healthier in my short life.
I shall send you my pic-
ture when I get my pay
so that I can get it taken.

 [page 2]
It is about all that
we soldiers can do
to mail our letters, let
alone getting pictures
taken now.  The Col.
says that we will get
our pay next week.  I hope
so for I never wanted
money so bad in my
life.  I shall send the
most of it to you by
Express to Lanark.
I will write and let you
know when I send it.
I hope that you will
have no trouble in get-
ting your harvesting
done.  You may depend
on me for money to
pay cutting.  Try to get
someone to cut it that
will cut it just as you

 [page 3]
can bind it up, and
I do not think it best for
you to change work with
anyone.  If the boys can
work out any after you
are done, it would be
well for them to do so
but see that your own
grain is harvested and
then it will be time to work
for someone else.
You must not forget that
Hank is all right and prom
ises to come to see his friends
after this war is over--
We are [sic] Give my regards to
all inquiring friends and
tell them that Hank says
 he will fight hard should
a chance present itself.
We boys begin to think
that we are approaching the

 [page 4]
enemy as we heard the
roar of canon days
before yesterday.  The battle
is said to have taken place
at Strawsburg about 40
 miles from here.   We
could hear very distinctly
the report of the canon.  Gen's. Banks and Sigel it
is said commanded our
troops and drove the Rebel
Jackson until they got
him in such quarters
as to take prisoners the most
of his Army, which I
hope is true.  I have one
thing for you to do with
out fail and do it soon.  I
want you to send Nelson with
a dollar to Mt. Carroll and
pay the editors of the paper
for me. Now don't forget to
do so soon as you may send
it by mail and another
thing I don't want you to let
Hathaway sue you on that note
if you possibly can help it.
And do not go in debt any
more but try to pay all your
debts this fall.  Remember that we
are going to have hard times

[cross hatched on page 1]
and then use the rest of the money
to you own purposes.  If you can
get a chance to sell Old Nig, let him [?]
at a good price for all [?] and
use the money to pay debts.  Now, don't
go in debt but pay all you owe now.  Hard
times are coming.  You must try
and do the best you can without
Hank for I do not expect to be at home
for some time yet.  I shall write
to you often and I want you
to do the same.  With many regards,
I am, very truly yours,                                                                                                                                                          
                                         Hank
                                         Martinsburg, Va.
                                          12th Ills, Cav. Co. C.
You may send me some postage stamps.

[upside down in top margin of page 1]
All write soon and often.

[cross hatched on page 4]

When Em hears from Crum I want her
to give me his address that I can write
to him and tell me what the boys write
back home so that I will know some
thing about them.  Tell me all about
the crops and don't forget to give
me the particulars.When you get
the Mt. Carroll papers, I want you to
send them on to me and direct them
the same as letters.  I owe Crum 7
or 8 dollars and I owe Sheriff Landon
7 dollars which I want you to pay
as soon as I send you the money
and don't forget to pay them for
it is due them long enough.  I want
you to try to pay all that I owe so that
there will be no grumbling at me.

William Henry "Hank" Redman
12th Illinois Cavalry


MSS 7415