Dear Father:

Being encamped near (or I might say at) a post office I thought I would write you a few lines to let you know where I am and what we are doing. We are on the march from Staunton to Winchester. We left the former place last Thursday morning and come on the mcadimised road. We only marched 13 miles that day and passed a little village called Mt. Sidney, a pretty place but small. Next day which was yesterday we marched 14 miles. I seen a good deal. It was a very exciting day with us we passed through a small town or village called Crawford in this Co. and shortly after passing through the town we met 500 yankees. I tell you they were a set of rough looking customers. It is no use for people to talk to me about our men being ragged for those Yankees were as ragged as any of our men I ever saw and a great many of them barefooted. There was a string of them near a mile long they were apart of what General Lee captured at Gettysburg, Pa. About 5 or 6 miles further we came to Harrisonburg, county seat of thei county. It is a very old but handsome town and some larger than Wytheville. The people seemed to fancy our Regt. very much and especially the band which played as we passed through. I heard such remarks as these, "that s a splendid band." That s the largest Ref t. I ever saw." It marches beautifully." Its the first I ever saw march in two ranks." Wonder if they were ever in a fight." There is more hospitality and kindness among these people here in the valley of Virginia than any where I have been since I joined the army. Well we camped last night 3 or 4 miles this side of town and from there we came here this morning only marching 10 miles today. We are now 37 miles from Staunton, and 55 from Winchester. We are camped 4 miles from the line between this and Shenandoah Co. The names of these places caused me to think of Grandpa Fisher as this Rockingham and Shenandoah Co is the same as he used to talk of. There is a little town 8 miles from here called New Market, he used to talk about. My sheet is most full. I must close. This leaves me well and ready to sit down to help devour a "big dew berry pie" which we made. Hope this will find you all well and hearty.  I remain as ever your devoted son.      

Thomas W. Fisher                                
 
 

COPYRIGHT© 1998 Dianne McGinley Gardner - All rights reserved.  Copies for personal use and research may be freely made.  Commercial use is prohibited without permission.