William Latham Candler
Papers, 1861-63, Ms1997-007
September 10, 1861; letter written from camp Union Bladensburg, MD
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Bladensburg Sept. 10, 61
My dear Uncle
Our Regt marched yesterday morning at 6 A.M. and arrived at Upper Marlborough about 7 last evening. We had an awful march; over a regular Cape Cod road. As I was writing a note to Fan, in the woods where we were bivouaced, I recd orders to start immediately for Camp with dispatches to Genl Hooker, and in five minutes I was on the road. I am now waiting orders to return and expect to get them very soon. You can judge some of what I can go through when I tell you my last two days experience. Night before last I had about three hours sleep, yesterday our Regt marched eighteen miles; but Capt. + I were skirmishing from ten A.M. Skirmishing all over the country, over fields,
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through swamps and woods through which one could hardly crawl, is very different from marching on a good road; and this morning I have ridden eighteen miles and am to ride eighteen and perhaps thirty miles back this P.M. Our Regt was awaiting the arrival of cavalry to advance to Lower M. about 15 miles farther, and as I met the cavalry about 10 miles this side of our bivouac, I am afraid they have gone forward in which case I shall have a sweet ride; and that on a hard riding horse. Love to John if he is in N.Y.
In Great Haste
Your Aff Nephew
Wm L. Candler
P.S.
We have seen no signs of the enemy and I think we will be called back shortly.
W
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