1862 September 16 Green Castle, Franklin County, Penn.

        Franklin County,      
    Green Castle, Penn.
          Sep 16th 1862
Dear Friends at Home
                            By the mer
cy of God I am again where
I can write to you and I may
say that I am well, yet am
nearly worn out by the fatigue
of the labor through which I
have passed since the 7th
of this month.  On that day
we had a sharp brush
with the enemy near Winchester
and whipped them completely.
We were kept on picket
duty til the 12th and early in
the morning of that day we were
compelled to evacuate Mar
tinsburg and go to Harpers
Ferry . We left Martinsburg

[page 2]
in such a hurry that we
were compelled to burn
nearly every thing that we
had to prevent its falling
in to the hands of the Rebels
I was on Picket guard 4
miles from Camp and
knew nothing of the evacua-
tion at Camp until every
thing was put together, in
a pile to burn consequent
ly every thing I had was
burned up.  all my mini-
atures, books, letters and
extra clothes were consumed by
the flames hence I have no
change of clothes now. We staid
at Harpers Ferry two days &
On  the morning of the 13th
the enemy commenced to
Shell us out and we were
under a constant fire
from their batterys all

[page 3]
that day  When night came
on, all hostilities ceased
and we rested upon our
arms until morning. This was
Sunday and the cannondading
commenced early in the morn
ing and continued all day
In the P.M. it became
very evident that we were
entirely surrounded by
the enemy for shells were
being poured in upon
us from every side I
tell you we began to smell
powder and things looked
rather gloomy for us
At night fall Gen White
told our Col and the Col of
the 8th New York cavalry
that they might take their
men and cut our way
through the lines of the
enemy.  We started and

[page 4]
came through with out
being damaged very much
by the enemy We only had
one horse shot by the enemys
pickets We were shelled
as we came through their
lines and had quite a little
battle Sun yesterday  yes
terday[sic] morning (Monday morning)
but not one or our men
were killed  We captured
from the enemy 72 waggons
with 5 mules to each waggon
and the  waggons were loaded
with ammunition and com
missary stores During all
this time we had nothing to
eat except Hard Crackers & Pork
Well in Short we have had
quit a hard time We arrived
in this place about 10 A M
yesterday and have been treated
well ever since we came
in here and so we shall
live well if we stay a month
Ah! they are loyal here.

incomplete letter of William Henry Redman,
Co. C., 12th Illinois Cavalry

MSS 7415