Letter 1 — October 27, 1862

Dear Mother I take my pen in hand to let you now that we are all well at present and hope that these few lines will find you in joying the same good blessing we left camp picway 19 went to Columbas from there to Zansvill there we got on the bote and went to maryatta we was on the boat too nights and won day the ferst night we went nine miles and stold and did not get a way til ten a clock next day then we had to on lode all or pervisns on a flat bot and all get of and walk a bout a half mild we got a lot of appels and pies and Cakes going down the muskingon river then we went don the ohio river 12 miles on the train then crost the river to parkersburg where we went in to camp in a nice grove there is two rigments here the 11 virgini and the 122 Ohio when we come here we didnt think we wod stay here til morning but we putup or tents and we dont now when we will leave here some think we will stay here al winter we have the name of beinge the best and the swelst rigment that hase went thrue parkersburge wel Muther georg says he is tired a writing and I must write we air in campt on a mans farm that has too suns in the ce cesh armey but he claims to be a union man Last sunday we had about to inches ov snow George Frock Tom Claton and myself went to the river and baut a sturgon that waid about forty five pounds we made the boys belive that we cached it tere was severel ov them went and baut hucks and lines but they have not cached eney large wones yet and I dont think they wil I herd a while a go that we were to leave here next wensday I dont now wethe to beleav it or not for we hear so money fals reports we herd at meriati that they was fitin at parkersburge but when we got there we found their was no rebel army near than sixty miles but there is some liveing about here the second day that we was here won ov the boys went out and brought in a hog that would way about 150 lbs some of the uther companies got a beaf wel muther I must bring my leter to a close George sed he would finish it but he has gon to the river to do some washing give my love to all the frens Nancy and Manuel I want you both to rite no more at present yore suns George and Mathew Overpack to Sara A Wise direct yore leters to parkersburge Wood Co Virginia in the Cair of Capt Brown Co I