Letter 24 — Camp in the Shanadore Valey 10 miles from Harpers fary, August the 20, 1864

Dear Muther I recievd yore leter ove the 7 last evning I wase glad to here from you but wase sorey to here that Nancey wase un well I hope this wil find you all as it leaves us that is enjoying good helth we havent had eney fighting to doo sence we last rit George rit the 7th of this month since he rit we have ben down to strasburge and back it is 50 miles from harper fary to strasburge we had a pretey hard march ove it but we had plenty ove god grub we had all the fresh pork and chickens rosting ears and huney we wanted we wase a paying the rebs for what they done in maroland and pencylvania we ayre own ower old stomping ground in the Shanadore valey I am in hopes they will leave us here it is much ncer here than it is down at petersburge thaire we cudent get out ove the rifel pits without being in danger ove geting a ball put throoe us I think we will be left here to ceap the rebs out ove Maraland and Washington I wish I wase at home to help you to move but if you had no more housholde and cichen furnutur than we have it wodent be az much ove a job to moove we can pack up and be redey to move in five minets time we carey all ove our cooking utonchels and our houses onn our backs Muther you wanted to now if I got them potographs I got them and wase glad to seay you both lok so well you wanted to now what I had to doo I atend to drawing rashins fore the Compney I dont have eney uther dutey to do as far danger eney man is in danger that cres a gun and dont act the cowerd which I dont claim to be Georg is with the Compney now but he dont carey eney gun or due eney thing lce warth speking a bout George sent some money when he rit you didnt saye wether you got it or not well I must close for this time yore sun

Mathew Overpack