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Original letter written by William W.
Parker, 1st Lieutenant of Company H, 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry to a
friend, W. Putnam Kuhn of North Conway, New Hampshire.
Original envelope and cancelled 3 cent stamp included with letter.
Parker enlisted on 8/12/63 at the age of 21.
He was a resident of Boston. He
survived the war and mustered out at Fairfax Courthouse on July 20, 1865.
Point
of Rocks, Aug 5/64
Friend Kuhn – You must pardon the want of ink be thankful this
time for what you can get – a poor pencil mark – Here I am sitting on
a bag of oats under a tree with a fine view of the Potomac before me &
the ridge of the Cotoctin behind – This is a jolly life just now – no
long marches & plenty of time to sleep & a beautiful country.
It is almost like a horseback journey for pleasure.
I don’t know whether we shall go with Hunter or return to the
defences of Washington. We
have too much idle time just now – We left Washington some time ago went
to the Ferry and camped near Hall Town.
There we reconnoitered toward Martinsburg, & were ordered to
return across the river – did so – Harper’s Ferry we found crowded
with troops – we had to march by file & then found it difficult to
thread the jam of army waggons & ambulances.
We crossed the pontoon & after a tedious ride of all night
reached Fox’s gap, South Mt. which we were ordered to hold. On the march half the men were asleep – your friend among
the number – The Capt laughed at me & I determined it should not
happen again – we had a good chance to sleep and our co was then sent
near Hagerstown on picket – We had a pleasant time here lying in the
white oak grove – When our 24 hours were nearly up, orders came to call
in pickets & follow the command to Frederick – Calling in pickets
was no short work + it was 10 PM before we reached the spot the regt had
left at Fox’s gap. We
pushed on all night arriving at Frederick at 3 am – alas for any good
resolutions. Cap & I talked an hour or two & then were silent
& then sleepy. I fought
hard, but at last made a very low bow and found myself 50 yards ahead of
the column. I was pleased to
hear that the Capt succumbed also – Why the men kept coming forward
every few minutes – some would wake them & they would fall back into
place amid the sallies of their comrades – When the rider falls asleep,
the horse finds it out & takes a longer step– As we crossed a narrow
bridge without railing one horse leaped over into the water 20 ft. below.
It was deep & horse & rider came safely out. Horse only showed the effects next morning.
The country here is very pretty but the mts not so high nor so
picturesque as Conway. I feel
as if I were almost living there as all my family are at Merrills – How
are you enjoying yourself? I
wish you & I were to form the nucleus of a Moat Mt. party – my
Friend Miss Fanny McGregor would be of the party if she could + one other
young lady I know of. I am
going to make up a bloomer party some day.
By the way, where is Miss Fanny now?
I hear Leslie is at Conway – She of course will know – By the
way speaking of ladies I am just wicked enough to hope some of them will
make an end of you – Wounds are in fashion nowadays – It is
unmercifully hot, or would be were there no wind – I am surprised to
find Va weather so bearable – The dust on a march is severe enough –
but we cavalry who move on borrowed legs have nothing to complain of –
It is the infantry who suffer – Write soon & as often as the spirit
moves – “If the cackle of
geese saved Rome how much more does the flush of chickens deserve of the
soldier”. I write as it
comes to my ears from one of the boys – I have heard many an amusing
speech – I was riding one day at the head of my squadron when a NYorker
came dashing past – ran carelessly into some low branches, but stuck it
out & pushed on One of my
boys said “that fellow would make a good sign for a butchers shop
“Calves head & Pluck”. Ever
your sincere friend W. W. Parker
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