Camp Jones Flat Top Mt
Friend Eli
I wrote to Tom
a few days since and in
his letter said I would
write to you soon I
will now fulfill that
promise. We are still
encamped on Flat Top
and I am afraid are
doomed to remain here
some time. We thought for
some days that we were
going to move our
camp on account of water
becoming scarce here
but I guess they will
sink Wells I hear they are
to commence to day
Col Hayes thinks it probable
that when we do leave here
[page 2]
we will go into
Eastern Virginia I only hope
it will be so
Our present Camp is a
very pleasant one being at
so high an elevation
it is quite cool especially
at night. We are camped
on a very fine farm owned
by a Mr Braines he lives
here inside the lines
I believe he is a Union
man
What would you think
if an army should come
along and camp in the big
meadow below the road
burn all the rails use
the sheep barn as guard
house or stable also use
the old barn & stable
then place their pickets
all around (Pickets are
[page 3]
around Camps and all
the roads & paths and are
called picket posts from
three to ten men form a
post then outside of these
are other posts called
out posts and are guarded
by Cavalrymen. these
pickets remain on duty
24 hours) one post would
be on top of the hill toward
Ashland annother where the
new road turns off annother
one in the woods toward
the other farm and annother
toward Charlie McWilliams
then beyond there at
the Blacksmith Shop up
at McGraths over at the
School House and other
places would be placed
cavalry outposts. No citizen
would then be allowed
[page 4]
to pass in nor any
one go out without a
pass people at home have
no idea of the inconvenience
country are obliged to submit
to every road that an
army passes over is literally
devastated then after the
army passes great Trains of
wagons are constantly passing
conveying provisions & they
gather up whatever is
left camping wherever it
suits them & burning rails
& destroying property without
stint or mercy if they
find any corn or oats in
the citizens barns they go
and take it asking no questions
and it is useless to remonstrate
these are a few of the evils
of war. Now Eli I want
[page 5]
you to write to me when
you get this. Sit down
& take you time to it and
you can write me a long letter
tell me what you are doing
tell me how crops are doing
how is the wheat oats
corn fruit &c &c
are you or have you built
any fence & where? how are
[page 6]
are the Evergreens in the yard
doing? I want you to keep the
yard clean & I think it would
be a good idea to dig out the
stumps in the barn yard at
your leisure, you might fire &
burn them out Have you any
pets now? Did MaryAnn get
her red birds? How does Milo get
along? How many cats do they keep
this summer? How many horses have you
now &c &c tell me everything you can
[right margin of page 6]
think up J.D. Templeton
James Dinsmore Templeton, musician and private in the 23rd Ohio
MSS 10317
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