Charlestown, Jefferson County, W. Va.,
September 24, 1862.
I have not written to you in three or four weeks, because
there has been no mail between us and Richmond. I have seen sights since then,
I assure you. If I should tell you what our army has endured recently you could
hardly believe it. Thousands of the men now have almost no clothes and no sign
of a blanket nor any prospect of getting one, either. Thousands have had no
shoes at all, and their feet are now entirely bare. Most of our marches were on
graveled turnpike roads, which were very severe on the barefooted men and cut
up their feet horribly. When the poor fellows could get rags they would tie
them around their feet for protection. I have seen the men rob the dead of
their shoes and clothing, but I cannot blame a man for doing a thing which is
almost necessary in order to preserve his own life. I passed Goggans' body two
days after he was killed at Manassas, and there the poor fellow lay, robbed
like all the others. (Do not say anything about this, for his family might hear
of it.)
I was sick for one week at a private house, and did not
catch up with our regiment until the day after the battle at Sharpsburg,
Maryland. Doubtless you have learned how our regiment suffered in the battle,
and it is useless for me to tell you of the shocking scenes I have witnessed.
Billie was in the battle at Shepherdstown. Our men put it right into the
Yankees there when they had them in the river.
I do not know where our regiment is at present, but have
heard that it is near Martinsburg. My brother was well when I last saw him. He
and I have three flannel shirts between us, and I have some other very good
clothes. I have but one pair of socks, and they are nearly worn out. I had a
good pair, but some one stole them.
I am now here at a hospital with our wounded, and will remain
until they are well enough to be moved away. The Yankees came near enough the
other day to throw several shells into the town, but they did no harm except to
wound a little boy. They are certainly fanatical. As much as we whip them, they
are not disposed to give up. The people here especially the women-hate them
bitterly.
I am boarding with the widow of the late Judge Douglass of
Virginia, and as I have plenty of everything which is good to eat I am
beginning to fatten, but will soon lose it when I start on the march again. The
people are overwhelming in their kindness to our wounded, and bring them every
dainty.
I could write you some interesting letters now, but I have
very little hope of this one getting through to you. I do wish so much I could
hear from you and George; that worries me more than everything else put
together, although I have seen so much recently which was shocking and horrible
that I am hard to worry about anything. If I am spared to get home I shall be a
wiser, if not a better, man. So goodby for the present, my dear wife.
SOURCE: Dr. Spenser G. Welch, A
Confederate Surgeon's Letters to His Wife, p. 31-3