Allegany to Appomattox: The Life and Letters of Private William Whitlock of the 188th New York Volunteers

8. Wrecking the Weldon

104 8 Wrecking the Weldon Letter 24 Dec. 13th . . . 64 My Dear wife I have just recied two letters from you about ten minuts ago and was right glad to hear that you was all well. I am well but some lame from the long march we have just returned from. I received a ltter from you the night befour we marched and wrote a short ansur stating we was ordered to march. we started the next morning and got back last night. we are within four miles of our old camp but dont expect to stay. we may have to go on another rade. some think they are looking up winter quarters for us. I hope they are. Lide if I had time I would like to give you a detale of the rade we made for I think it would be interesting to you if I could explane it just as it was but I cant. I will do the best I can in giving a few detales. we started about fifty thousand strong, marched south fifty or sixty miles within a few miles of North Carliny. [we] burnt buildings and fences tore up about 25 miles of railroads burnt up tyes and spoiled the iron. we was gone just a week but saw no fiting . the cavlery had a few little shots. we drove quite a drove of cattel and some negroes. I tel you Lide it was a splendid part of the contry. rich bildings but they had to come down. we went down one road and back another and it would be hard matter to estimate the damage. Perhaps you will get the amout befour we will. I stood the march first rate did not loose eny thing but befour we Wrecking the Weldon  105 had marched two days half of the boys threw away thear knapsacks and almost all thear clouths. we were gone just a week. we started tuesday and got back mondy night. I cant ansur your questions today for I have not time but I thank God that I am spaired to hear from you once more and to write a few lines back to you. Now Lide you must excuse this time for I am in a hurry. write as often as you can. I will do likewise. if we get whare we put up for the winter in a few days I will Write and you may send me a small box if you are a mind to. [include] some butter and a few things, just what you are a mind to—a little cheas if you pleas. Lide write soon. I dont know as you can read this ; I was in a hurry and I didnt stop to get ink. Now good by to all. yours in true affection, Will Letter 26 Dec. 17th. . . . 64 Dear Lide as I am on picket and stood on post last night we are held as reserve to day and nothing to do. so I thought I would write you a few lines. I am well and do hope you are all the same. Lide I dont know as you can read this for I have to sit on the ground with my paper on my lap and I have nothing to stidy my hand on but you must figure it out some how or other. Lide I am going to try and tel you something about our march but you must not expect a ful detale for I am not capable of giving it. The first day nothing occurd of note. we marched until about ’fore oclock in the afternoon and halted for a pontune bridge to be put across the Notoway river and at two the next morning started on our march agane and cept it up until four oclock that day then we halted and rested until dark then started agane and five miles 106  Allegany to Appomattox and struck the railroad. we stacked our guns and slung our knapsacks and went to work taking up the track. it was hard work and we was tired but we made it fly I tel you! we worked about two hours and then moved on past two or three brigads and went at it agane and worked until two oclock in the morning. then we had orders to rest so we layed down on our blankets until daylight. that...