|
"We're up and on the line by daybreak and moved on through a place called pleasant vally and it was a very beautiful place. looked somthing like the little cove. we passed by dozens of deserted camps and one convalescent camp. saw some men with but one arm each, out in the fields with a dog. they seemed to be enjoying themselves. asked for N. Y. regts. we moved on and pretty fast too, our knapsacks pulling back all the time. I tell you the marching is nothing but carrying a load of about 50 lbs is as hard work as you ever tried on. they dont feel so heavy at first but grow amazingly. a lamb when we start but an old sheep when we stop. we can have some Idea how horses feel after pulling all day. my shoulders are so sore I can hardly move them without hurting. I will not get my boots now and it is about as well, as most of the boys who got new boots have sore feet. I will try to get a pair of good shoes when my boots are worn out. they are far easier to walk in than home made ones, which are too narrow in the sole."
S. W. North written to his brother, 1862
"Our advance said the rebels lay as far as the eye could see. their force was estimated at forty thousand. we then commenced returning and moved on till dark, when our rear guard and artillery were firing very briskly. we about faced and marched back again. our boys did not relish that as we were very tired, our provissions [ all] done, and it was getting dark, but we soon turned again and came on to the river and such a time as we had crossing. you would have been scared to see long lines of men plunging and wading the river. it was dark and every now and then one of the tired fellows would fall down in the water. I did not get anything wet but my boots, stockings and drawers and I put on dry ones when I got to camp."
Sam written to his brother, 1862
This excerpt has been used with the permission of "The Valley of the Shadow"
http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/vshadow2/cwletters.html
Back to Stories
|
|
