Dear Mary,-

I am still in the Camp where we have been for some weeks but will not stay here long. On the 10th inst. the Regiment received orders to be in readiness to move and yesterday morning it marched out of Camp and away, we do not know where. We, the sick, were left behind with enough to guard us and the Camp. Brother Will was left to take care of me. I do not know how long I will stay here. We have a few days' rations but there was no doctor or medicine left with us. We have received the box from home. Lieutenant Culver received a barrel from home and gave it all away. Henry Cleveland had to give all his away but the butter. He said he would hold on to that as long as he could.

As I could not mail my letter yesterday I did not finish it and will write whenever I feel like it until I have an opportunity to send it to the Ferry to mail or until I get where I can do so. Last Sabbath there was a man of our Company missing. He had not been seen since the day before. His name was Richard West and was from Shushon. This morning he was found in a clump of bushes with his throat cut. He had committed suicide. At times he had been deranged and was very homesick. Charles H. Billings who lived on White Creek Road died of congestion of the lungs this morning. He was out of his head and very strong. It took two men to take care of him. Dr. Maynard is here and says he will not leave the sick until they are provided for by the Government. How kind he is to stay with us voluntarily.

I am now where I can mail my letter and will finish it. I am now in Harpers Ferry Hospital, Va. I came here the 15th. Those who came here of our Company are Henry G. Sweet, George Beebe, John A. Mains, Silas Hopkins, Alexander H. Wells, John Barry, James H. Wright, David Blowers and Newal L. Harwood. Jacob Hover and brother Will were left to take care of us in Camp and they came here with us. There were several men of other companies who were sick that were left with us and a few men to guard the Camp. Adjutant Geo. H. Wallace was the only officer left in Camp and he is sick. We had quite a surprise on the 14th while in Camp. The guerrillas made a dash on a picket post within sight of our Camp and took all of the men, three in number, prisoners and went away with them. Adjutant Wallace saw the enemy when their horses came in sight. He got out of bed, put on his pants and a pair of boots, took a cane and started out and called for the men to fall in. There were but few men who could do so and they had but few guns. They fell into line and started off to retake the men, led by Adjutant Wallace. He is a very brave man with lots of grit. The guerrillas hurried our men away a few miles, took their guns and whatever they wanted that the men had, then let them go. They returned to camp that night less some government property and their rations.

I do not know that I will remain here as the Hospital is over full and some are sent to other hospitals,- to Baltimore and Philadelphia. Brother Will has worked so hard am glad that he did not have to march. He went on the cars to join the regiment. The mud is so deep it would be very hard marching. I presume he will get to where the regiment is going before they will. I wanted him to stay here a while at the hospital and help but he could not. There are so many convalescent that can do light work that the hospital officers keep them. I have written you a long letter.