Va Sep 23d 62
Dear Mother
I suppose you are anxious to
hear from me by this time I left
Mill Creek the 15th arrived in Washington
the 17th stayed there two days and was
sent here instead of to my regt. as I
expected on account of
receiving orders not to send a man
to their regt until further orders
I am as well as I ever shall be
while in the service I am going up to
the doctors to be examined and I may
if I play my cards right get detailed
on some good job. Tell Asa I was over to
the 16th yesterday and saw Frank Wright
he looks thin and poor all used up
I tried to see Frank Perkins but they said
that he had gone away some time ago
and had not got back yet. You ought to
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see this camp here it is about 2 miles
from Herndon it contains some 5 or 6
thousand I guess every regt in the service is
represented here each state is by itself. It
is shameful to see the new recruits
that have got their high bounties for
enlisting here playing off and trying to
get their discharge some have only
stayed with their regt one night
I heard one boasting that with all the
bounties he got and presents, he got
$500.00 I thought he had better dry up
and not boast that he had to be
hired to enlist because he is not
thought much of by the old vets that
did not have to be hired it is no
credit to him, but looks unfair to us
that have been out here and suffered
so much as we have during the
last year to think that we are not
going to get anything for it, but our
simple $13 a month. I have heard from
my box it came to the regt and
[page 3]
when they moved it was opened
and distributed to the men &
they could not carry it I cannot write
any more now as my head aches. Must
excuse my not writing before as I
have had no paper do not direct
any letters here till you hear from
me again
From you aff son
Wm Wallace
Envelop addressed to
Mrs. C. Smith
Newton Lower Falls
Mass
William Wallace Smith, Co. B, 22nd Massachusetts
MSS 15360
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