1862 September 7 Frederick County, Maryland

                  Frederick Co. Maryland
                             Sept 7th 1862
Brother Sam:
                         I have not been able
to write home since I reached camp
for the simple reason, I have not been
so situated as to have it in my
power to write.  I have been quite well
since I left home, except for the last day
or two.  I have the Diarrhrea which makes
me quite weak. the day I left Staunton I
got to Gordonsville about noon took a freight
train about 5 P.M. came to Orange C.H.
then walked on,--night came on , we
stopped for the night & built a fire under
but it was not such a bed as we had at the Cols.
a large tree,  ^ got to camp about 6 A.M.
next morn,--found all well, busy getting
breakfast; we then left camp about
light Wednesday morn & have been on the
go ever since; but I think we will rest
to day , i.e. if the Yanks let us alone

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we are encamped about two miles south-
east of Fredrick city.  I reckon the Yanks
think this is a very bold move in old
Jack, to invade what they term their
"sacred soil" we cant get any reliable
information as to where the Yankees are
in this state; the few that we4re guard-
ing the B. & O. Railroad scampered be-
fore we got to it; the large part of
the Yankee army is in & about
Washington.
  I have seen some beautiful
country since I crossed the Potomac;
a majority of the people are good
"secesh" I don't know where, or which
way we will go from here; but we
will strike for some point soon.
David Willson got here this morn
& brought me a  letter from father
which I was glad to get; suppose
you & sisters had a nice time over the
mountains, would like to have been along.

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I did not tell you anything about
the fights at Manassas & on the roads
Was in the fight near Bristow station
the 27th of Aug. were under fire the 28 were
actively engaged the 29, & our brigade
made a brilliant charge & drove the
Yanks from a railroad cut; was under
fire the 30:--no fighting on the 31st except
cavalry, & on the 1st Sept we were ac-
tively engaged with muskets; in which
I was struck 3 times but not hurt; 1st on the
breast, then on the leg, had a hole put through
my coat, & had my gun shattered in my
hand, but I am happy to say it was no worse
& I trust I am not unmindful of the "kind
hand" that so mercifully protected me, &
you all at  home must not forget me in these
times of peril & danger.  We have been in no
fight since the 1st inst.  I saw Clay not
long since he is well; our boys are all
well now; our regt  has to go on picket &
I must close, with love to all the family

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also to all my lady-friends tell
the darkies howdy.  I got a yan-
kee knapsack on the 1at inst with
a good blanket, oil cloth, needles
pins, thread & likenesses, portfolio
&c &c  Write soon direct
     Truly your brother Jno.

PS On the 1st instant the Yanks came
within 20 steps of us before they
saw us, we then fired into them
& I tell you they made tracks
I think I sent one to his long
home. I did my best any way.
                         Yours &c Jno

Direct John Pilson
          Co D 25th Va Vol.
          Gen Early Brigade
          Gen Ewell's Division

PS No 2  Excuse mistakes time is
precious now (You must go & see
Jno Lambert & Geo Hawke, remember me to
both; tell Geo I will write to him when
we get to Philadelphia. tell him to write
to me, & tell me about "criter" & other galls.

MSS 10801