1862 August 20 Camp Wells, Washington, D. C.

Aug. ^the 20^th A.D. 1862

Camp Wells

My Friend Harry

As I have just now
got off of duty I thought that it was
my duty to inform you of some of
the proceedings. Friend we left Har-
risburg [unclear: [illeg.]]of day
at 10 O,clock A.M, and arrived at
Baltimore at 6 O,clock in the eve-
ning where we were treated with
much respect by the citizens
The whole Regiment got their
supper at the Soldiers relig. asso-
ciation; a place kept up by the
citizens of Baltimore for the ben-
efit of the soldiers. Our supper
consisted of bread boiled ham
cheese, and plenty of first rate coffee,
but spreads we had none. And we
left Balt. at 9 O,clock that night
and arrived at Washington City at
1 O,clock the next morning A.M.


[page 2]

where we retired for the night
we all slept in the soldiers
retreat, a building put up for to
rest soldiers in the morning we
got our breakfast which was bread and
a hunk of meat and chocklet
with greese swimming on it a half
an inch thick. I had a great notion
to greese my shoes with it. We spent
a Tuesday forenoon in running
around through the City and about
10 O,clock we were marched to
where we now are. We are in-
camped about in the 7 miles
south west from Washington. We
were marched from the City to camp
wells 7 miles with only 2 rests
of about 10 minutes each with
our knapsacks on our backs
and our guns and our haversacks
all together weighing about 50 lbs
and we were doublequicked part of
the way


[page 3]

Last night was the first
night that I slept on the sa-
cred soil of old Virginia and I
never slept better in my life.
Last night there was one of our
gards was out in the hand las night
as he was walking the beat there [unclear: ^at ]
was a man jumped out of the
bushes out of the bushes and cut
the gard across the hand pretty
bad I do not know whether
it was a rebbe or not. Hen.
When you get married I want
you to send me word for I want
to be the second best or first I dont
care which. I heard that you were to
be married I like it first rate but
it is not the living that we get
at home. I will get along first
rate tw untill winter commences when
singing and spelling are going
on then I will wish for home


[page 4]

I now must close for the present
for we must drill 9 hours tomor-
row. write sou soon and give
me all the all news of old Southampton
Give my love to all the Ladies of
old Franklin. Nothing more
at present

Yours Respectfully

William J. Martin

 William J. Martin of the 130 Pennsylvania Infantry to Henry A. Bitner

[transcript by the Valley of the Shadow project]

MSS 11395