1862 July 25 Martinsburg, Va.

                         Martinsburg, Va.
                                 July 25th 1862

Dear Father, Mother, Brothers
and Sisters--You all
will please excuse me for
addressing you all; for I
want time to do otherwise
I have recd. all of your
letters,and I tell you they
were gladly received.
Be assured that all you
write to me, is interesting,
though you think it but
little consequence.  I am
all right; and never had
my health better in my
life.  You would hardly know
me I am so fleshy and have
such a "big" "Mus-Tosh" I
shall send you my picture

[page 2]
at the earliest convenience
Our occupation now
is principally scouting
and going out as picket
We bring in a Secesh band
nearly every day. Yesterday
we caught an old Secesher
with a Rebel flag- about
seven or eight miles from
here in the mountains I was
out scouting all day yesterday
and until 12 oclock last night
I have a good horse and good
arms, have a Sabre, car-
bine, and a Revolver, and
can shoot 13 times per min
ute The carbine is loaded at
the breech and a person can
load and shoot it 13 times per
minute: So you see that with
it & the revolver I can shoot
about 13 times.  Our Col is
commander of 40 miles

[page 3]
Square, Martinsburg being
at the center We sometimes]
go Scouting to the distance
of 40 miles from Camp
and are gone Several days
Maj Gen. Pope has issued
a proclamation declaring
that the Cittizens shall feed
and Support the Soldiers
of his Command while
Scouting & passing through
the country hence we
carry no raitions out
when being so we just call
on the Cittizens  You people
of Ill know nothing about
the hardships of this war
What would you think if
40 or 50 men would call
on you for dinner or a
feed for horses every
day or two?  fancy that you
would think it very hard

[page 4]
A part of our company stoped
yesterday at an old Quakers
for dinner & horse feed.
He was very kind and said
that he is willing to give us
any thing we wished, if he could,
but that he knew very well
that if the Rebel Jackson should
ever get back into this Valley
he will be a ruined man
He gave us bread, butter, &
milk for our dinner and
Oats for our horses.
It is likely that we shall
remain encamped here
fore some time as t his is
to be a regular military
post, and will be fortified
soon.  Maj Gen. Wooll was
here day before yesterday
and inspected the troops
here.  He is a gray-headed old
man and is the first Maj
Gen that I have seen
I saw Gen Sigel at Bloom-
ingtoon Ills, but he is a Brig-
adier Gen. Gen. Sigel is
now somewhere near Harpers
Ferry and Maj.Gen Wooll
makes his head Quarter at
Baltimore Turn back to next
page (a scarcity of paper and stamps)

[in right margin of pages 2 and 3]
commander of 40  miles would think it very hard

[crosshatched on page 2]
Em you wished to know abut my lat-
tin books.  I do not owe Oneal any
thing and wish you to get my books
if he has them. I think that they are at
home. Em I want you to look up all my
books. [?] ONeal has my Higher Algebra
Get it home if possible.  Wooley promised
to  to[sic]  pay Miss Black 40 cents I owe here.
I want  you to see that she gets if if Woolley
dont pay it and that Miss Drake gets
that dollar I borrowed of her.
Wooley may have my Lattin Books
You ask how I spent the fourth
                         of Wheeling

Well I paraded the Streets ^ with the
Regiment and enjoyed myself
quite well.  think I could enjoy

[cross hatched on page 3]
myself better though had I been as
you wished "at home"  Oh yes
I supposed that you did have
a good time  All I have to say
go it while you are young but
girls do be -ware what kind of
company you keep  Remember
the old saying that "a person is
known by the company they keep"

I must bid you all good bye
and promise to write again soon
Do write Soon and give me partic
ulars about harvesting &c Tell me
all the news about School marms &
My Friends   W H Redman
No pay yet but think will be getting it soon

William H. Redman, Co. C. 12th Illinois Cavalry


MSS 7415