1862 February 19 Camp Franklin, Va.

Camp Franklin Va Feb. 19th /62

Dear parents.

I received a letter from
you last Monday night I was glad to
hear from you but was sorry to hear
that your mind was so troubled about
my health. I have written a letter stating
the truth concerning my health since
I left Portland. I have been off duty
in all about 3 weeks I have had the
colic once quite bad for awhile I got
a bad cold that lasted three or four
days and I have had two spell with
my bowels the same as I had at
home in haying time you will
remember when that was and what
my complaints were. I have been
out every day I have what we called
the yellows or jaunders last summer
I believe this is all the complaints I
have had since I enlisted I think I

[page 2]
I[sic] have been wonderfully favored in regard
to being sick. I am now in good health
and have been for some time although we
have had bad weather for colds for along
time we have had but a very few fair
days for more than two months. It rains to
day and the mud is deeper than the snow
has been this winter--we have had four or
five snow storms but it does not stay on
but a day or two. Mr Edmunds that tents
with me has got cold and cannot speak a loud,
word and there is some others in the same
condition in this Regt. other ways it is quite
healthy here. We have so much good
news that it would take me three days
to write the particulars I want you to get
a paper If you do not take one and read the
news. The best of all is the capture of fort
donelson with 15,000 prisoners and two
Maj. Genls Jonston and Buckner and reported
capture of Floid. Our pickets captured between
200 and 300 rebels near fairfax C. H. court house with out fireing
a gun they were marched to Washinton last night

[page 3]
some of the edittors[sic] think the capture of fort
donelson practally ends the war but I expect
we shall have some hard fighting yet before
the rebels will give up. Genl. Burnside is doing
good business down on the coast of Ga S. C.
and N.C. you will find the whole particulars
in the papers. There has been a large number
of our brave boys killed in the late battles
and left a great many to mourn their loss
but what is their loss compared with the loss
of this government the constitution and the
union of all the states it is comparatively
nothing. This government must be preserved, let
the cost of our lives and property be what it will
I was glad to hear by way of your letter
you had got them things I sent home I
want some one to clean the rust off and then
keep it oiled for I think a great deal of that
musket. You spoke of sending a box to us I
have not received it yet I think there is
some mistake about it. I have lately
learned our things will not come free the
things for the hospital alone came free

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John McLellan has got a box that was sent
since ours started from home. I do not
know why ours does not arrive you probably
will know the reason. Our army is called
the anaconda of which McLellan is the head,
this is representing a large snake this snake
is coiling arround in every direction and
drawing the rebels within its folds when
any prisoners are taken they say the great
anaconda has coiled around another nest
of rebels and broght them within it folds
this name is quite popular here. Our
whole Regt. came out the other night and
heard the news read by the Chaplin and such
cheering I never heard, come from the
throats of men the whole Potomac army is
alive with enthusiasm for the result of the late
victories. I have nothing more to write of
importance this time so I will close

Write soon and write all
the news
From your son
Hiram M. Cash

Hiram M. Cash, Private Co. K, 5th Maine

MSS 12916