The Civil War Adams County 1863 Transcriber’s Note: Often the print of this paper is bad, faded and hard to read. Anything the transcriber was not sure of is marked by a (?). Always verify everything via a second source. January 6, 1863 We learn from private letters that the 165th Regiment is now at Suffolk, Va., and is in fine condition. The indications are that they will remain there some time. Col. Buehler speaks very positively about the officers and men of his command. The following appointments have been made: Adjutant: J. Harvey White Quartermaster: E.T. Rinehart Sgt. Major: Emmanuel Myers Quartermaster Sgt.: Leander Cunningham Commissary Sgt.: Ephraim Shank Sutlers: F.B. Picking and Robert Horner Drum Major: John Plank Chaplain: Rev. T.P. Bucher (Mr. Bucher has declined) January 20, 1863 Sgt. W.A. Pitzer of Company G has been promoted to the position of Sgt. Major of the 138th Regiment The body of David A. Newman, member of Company A, 126th Regiment P.V., passed through this place on Tuesday. He was mortally wounded in the Battle of Fredericksburg and died in a Washington hospital. He was a son of E. Newman of Franklin Twp. Captain James A. Stahle has been elected major of the 87th Regiment, P.V., in place of Major Buehler, who has been promoted to colonel of the 165th. Captain James Adair’s company from this place and Captain Pfeiffer’s company from New Oxford are in excellent condition. Letter to the Editor Camp, 1st Regiment, P.A. Reserves January 6, 1863 I take the liberty of writing a few items for the benefit of our Adams County friends. On the 1st January our company was up to that date, acting as provost guard (Captain Stewart being Provost Marshall) at Brook’s Station on the Aquia Creek and Fredericksburg Railroad, was relieved of that duty and ordered to rejoin our regiment at this place two miles from Belle Plain Landing. We therefore, after an absence of four weeks from our regiment, were eager to grasp the hand of those yet remaining in our regiment. Our company did not participate in the recent fight at Fredericksburg for the above reason although we were with them in our hearts. The health of our division is generally good and Company K has no sickness. I am, dear Sentinel, Yours obediently P.R.V.C. Died, on the 21st Aug., at Macon, Georgia, Alexander Corban(?), formerly of this place, aged 43(?) 48(?). He was taken prisoner at the Battle of Shiloh. January 27, 1863 Thomas T. Shillen, who was taken prisoner at the Battle of Fredericksburg, and confined in Libby Prison in Richmond, has been paroled and is now at Annapolis, Maryland. Feb. 3, 1863 Ellis Hammersly, 9th Pa. Cavalry and son of Lt. Col. W.W. Hammersly, was seriously wounded in the late movement under General Carter in eastern Tennessee. Besides Ellis, we believe Lt. Col. Hammersly has two other sons in the service which he himself is suffering from a severe wound received at Antietam. Letter from Camp 165th Regiment Suffolk, Va. Jan. 27, 1863 Mr. Editor: It would perhaps be satisfactory to some of your readers to know where we are and how we are getting along. The 165th is getting along very well and the boys all seem in good spirits. We got word on the 7th January to cook three days’ rations and prepare to march on the following morning by 6:00 am. The night passed with a great deal of confusion and uproar through the whole camp but the hour arrived and we formed ranks and marched off. We marched that day 15 miles in the direction of Black Water River in North Carolina and pitched our tents in a thick pine woods where we slept on our arms during the night. The next morning when we woke up we found the ground covered with snow an it still continued to snow pretty fast until 7:00. At 8:00 we got orders to fall in and march about a mile where we halted and formed in line of battle. We remained there some two hours when we were again marched off in pursuit of the enemy. We marched some four miles at which point the enemy were thought to be in strong force. Our commander, Col. Gibbs, acting as Brigadier General, though it proper not to attack them. We were then ordered to fall back which we did in good order some 8 or 18 miles to Providence Church where we camped for the night. About 5:00 am we again took up the line of march in hot pursuit of the enemy. We marched about 18 miles until about 11:00. That was trying the mettle of the Adams County boy a little more than we bargained for; but they stood it remarkably well and we had fewer stragglers than any other regiment. We marched within two miles of Windsor where the enemy were thought to be. By this time we had been reinforced sufficiently to attack but when we arrived we found the enemy had fled. It was now growing towards night and raining. We were ordered to pitch our tents in the mud but a few minutes before dark we were ordered to march to camp, the distance being 15 miles. The night was dark and raining and the mud thick and deep and all we had accomplished was the capture of two Rebel prisoners but that mattered not to us. The march was made, the camp was within reach and the boys took the task cheerfully. Besides that our regiment has been doing provost and picket duty and one company reports at Fort McClellen every night for the purpose of guarding. The boys generally like it here very much. No more, but remain yours most respectfully, E.W. Feb. 10, 1863 The following is a list of exchanged prisoners of Captain Hunter’s Company: Lt. W. Horner M.J. Coble M.H. Plowman Samuel Bostick James A. Scott Oliver Welsh Hiram King James McCullough Jacob E. Myers E.W. Maring Reuben A. Flohr William Crawford, son of John Crawford, Esq., of this place and brother-in-law of E. McPherson, has been appointed a cadet at West Point. He was with the Anderson troop in the Battle of Murfreesboro. Feb. 17, 1863 To the Editor of the Adams Sentinel Dear Sir: By request I send you a few lines written on the death of John W. McElvain, who fell in the Battle of Murfreesboro. He was a native of this county, the son of James and Lavina J. McElvain. His age was 21 years, 8 days and when killed was sergeant and color bearer of the 54th (?) Regiment Ohio Volunteers. He had gone to that state before the war began and when a call was made for volunteers he as a brave man, volunteered to serve his country. By information received from his lieutenant colonel, he was a brave soldier but while in the Battle of Murfreesboro, alas for him! Though he was just in the bloom of life, he was doomed to fall a victim to the hand of treason. He was shot on the 31st December, 1862 and died the next day. March 3, 1863 We are pleased to learn that Daniel Skully of this place has been, through Hon. Edward McPherson, appointed a military cadet to West Point. We learn with regret of the death of Eli Lentz, member of Company I, 127th P.V., at Camp Alleman(?), Virginia. Mr. Lentz was taken ill with pneumonia Saturday night, Feb. 14 and died on Monday the 15th and was interred near the camp on Tuesday the 17th. He was from Latimore Twp., and enlisted in Capt. I.R. Shipley’s company and was highly esteemed by his comrades. He leaves a wife and child to mourn his loss. Died, on Sunday the 15th (?) ult., at Suffolk, Virginia, Michael Hollinger, of the 165th Regiment, from Latimore Twp., aged about 36. His body was brought home for burial and was buried on Thursday week at Franklin Church. He leaves a wife and five small children. March 10, 1863 Dr. John E. Herbst, of Hagerstown and formerly of this place, has been appointed surgeon of the U.S. Volunteers with the rank of major, by the President. We regret to announce that Wesley McKinney, a member of Company K, 1st Pa. Regiment, died at the hospital at Alexandria last week. He was about 21 years of age and was a good soldier and much esteemed by his comrades. Edward Welty, son of John Welty, near this place, has been unanimously elected captain of a company in the 14th Pennsylvania Cavalry. The company is from Westmoreland Co., Pa. March 17, 1863 The Hanover Spectator doubts the report of the resignation of Major Cyrus Diller of the 76th Pa. Regiment at Hilton Head, S.C., on account of ill health. His friends in that place have received no intimation of his resigning. Surgeon James R. Reilly, of Adams County has been transferred from the 127th Regiment Pa. Volunteers to the 179th. Captain Ira R. Shippley of Adams County of the same regiment resigned October 6, 1862. (Transcriber’s note, this same paragraph article was repeated in another paper but said the 129th Regiment.) March 24, 1863 Captain Theodore Tate of the 17th Cavalry has been transferred to the position of assistant surgeon of the regiment and has resigned as lieutenant. The regiment is now in front of Fredericksburg. March 31, 1863 Died, on the 4th inst., in the hospital near Vicksburg, Calvin Fehl, son of Valentine Fehl, formerly of this county and a member of the 37th (?) 57th (?) Regiment Ohio Volunteers, 17 years, 9 months. The papers announced a few days ago that all the citizen prisoners in Richmond had been exchanged and on Tuesday last all the prisoners from this county carried off by the Rebel Stuart arrived safely in this place. The following is a list: John B. Paxton, Shields Hunter, J.C. Martin, Andrew Warren, Nelson Boyd. Messrs. Schroeder and Hartman who were also made prisoners at that time, were released and arrived home several months ago. The poor fellows give a horrible account of their treatment while in the hands of the Rebels. They have been kept in close confinement for six months, first in the celebrated Libby Prison in Richmond and then in Castle Lightning. Their food was of the worst kind— nothing but dry bread and stinking meal and scarcely enough to keep them alive while their living conditions were filthy and uncomfortable. Many prisoners died from the treatment. We were struck with the appearance of Mr. Paxton who is looking worse than any of the others. He is very much reduced and could not have survived much longer. Star April 23, 1863 Captain W.W. Stewart is now Lt. Colonel of the 1st Pa. Reserves. Lt Minnigh is 1st Lieutenant of Company K and Sgt. Kitzmiller 2nd Lieutenant; Lt. Banner of Company K, 191st Regiment has been promoted to captain and Thaddeus Welty appointed to 2nd Lieutenant. On Friday inst., in a skirmish with the Rebels near Suffolk, Va., George Weismantel of the neighborhood of Gettysburg was killed, surviving but a few hours after he was wounded. He was in the 165th Regiment, Col. Buehler. His corpse was brought home yesterday in charge of several of his fellow soldiers. June 2, 1863 James A. McAllister, Orderly Sgt., Company H, Regiment Iowa Volunteers, formerly of Adams County and son of James McAllister, died at St. Louis on board the U.S. Hospital Ship Nashville, on May 22 of disease contracted in camp. June 9, 1863 We regret to learn that Thaddeus S. Camp who was wounded in the late battle at Chancellorsville, has since died of his wounds. He died within the Rebel lines but his body was decently buried. June 23, 1863 87th Regiment, Pennsylvania This hard working and always ready Pennsylvania Regiment, formed in York and Adams Counties, was in the recent fight at Winchester and much anxiety has been felt in regards to it. It was rumored at first that a large portion of the men had been captured but we are happy to learn from several who have made their escape and arrived here that such is not likely to turn out to be the case. Col. Schall left Harper’s Ferry with about sixty of the men and he thinks more will come in. This he writes to Col. Hay at York. Several of our boys who reached home on Friday reported having seen Lt. Col. Stahle, Major Ruhl and Lt. Norris and a portion of the men at Hancock, all safe. Lt. Baker is now said to be safe and it is hoped that Capt. Adair will soon be heard from in safety too. Several of the men are reported slightly wounded but it is not known that any were killed. July 7, 1863 We have learned of the following citizens deaths during the recent battle: Killed—Miss Virginia Wade by our own sharpshooter and Edward M., son of Alexander Woods, shot accidentally by his brother while playing with a gun picked up off the battlefield. Wounded—John L. Burns, a patriotic citizen who shouldered a gun and fell into the ranks with our men. He received three wounds from balls none of which are thought to be dangerous. Mr. Whetstone of the Theological Seminary received a slight wound in the foot and Mrs. Lehman of the college in the leg; Mr. R.F. McIlhenny was wounded in the leg and is now recovering. The College Guards, Capt. Klinefelter, have been mustered into the 26th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia. This was the first regiment in the field from Camp Curtin in response to the last call by the governor. The following are the field officers of the 26th: Col. W.W. Jennings of Harrisburg Lt. Col. Joseph S. Jenkins of Hanover Major Lorenzo Greenwalt of Lebanon Adjutant Harvey W. McKnight of the Pennsylvania College The College Guards Capt. F. Klinefelter 1st Lt. W.F. Hinkle 2nd Lt. L.W. Slater 1st Sgt. H.G. Fry 2nd Sgt. H.C. Shindle(?) 3rd Sgt. S.D. Shumaker 4th Sgt. G.W. Frederick 5th Sgt. O.F. Fegley 1st Corp. Wm. H. Rupp 2nd Corp. F.C. Pritchard 3rd Corp. D.F Rank(?) Rush(?) 4th Corp. J.C. Kohler 5th Corp. J.C Desinger 6th Corp. E.J. Wolf 7th Corp. T.L. Scip(?) 8th Corp. M.H. Richards Privates: Daniel Albert J.A. Beeder(?) T.C Billheimer M.G. Boyser P.A. Branson G.M .Baltzhoover R.A. Belch F.W. Baugher J.P Blymire D.G. Cantner R.E. Culp C. Chritzman S.B. Collins P. Doerr F. Eaton J.W. Finkliner A Jacoby W.C. Bishop J.R. Cully J.J. Cressman H.L. Cook W.H. Gotwald J.C. Hill J.C. Hutton S.S. Henry C.A. Heilig C.A. Heagy J. Irrgang L.D. Jacobs E.M. Melcenhelder(?) F. Muhlenberg A. McLaughlin C.C. Moorhead E.L. Rowe J.M. Rodman A J Reily W.H. Stock L.A. Soop L.H. Sahm J.C.S. Weills F.B. Wolf J.M. Young J.M. Keauth S.P. Miksell H.W. McKnight W.E. Parsons F. Ritchards T.F. Redolf J.D. Shindle W.C. Schneffer(?) S.M. Sayford R.M. Schick J.G. Wells D.H. Yount H.L. Ziegenfuss July 14, 1863 The gallant Pennsylvania Reserves were engaged on the enemy’s flanks and in their terrible charge completely routed the enemy and made some important captives. The following is a list of casualties in Capt. Bailey’s Company, commanded now by Lt. H.N. Minnigh. Calvin Hamilton, leg amputated, a ball struck his knee (see follow-up article 7-28 re this man) Jas. Culbertson, of Emmitsburg, ball shot through his neck, may survive Wm. Magrew, ball through arm and leg, flesh wound Wilson Nailor, ball through shoulder, not dangerous Obediah Beard, piece of shell struck his back, not dangerous David Woodring, ball glanced off forehead, not dangerous Jacob Arendt, ball glanced off his shoulder, not dangerous The people of Adams County have suffered more or less from both armies but those in the immediate vicinity of the battlefield have suffered the most—some indeed have lost all. We regret to learn that the house and barn of Wm. Bliss with all their contents were completely destroyed. He has lost his stock and everything else. The house and barn occupied by Wm. Comfort (the old McClean property) were also destroyed. The house and barn of Alexander Currens were both burned. The barn of Messrs. John Herbst and Alexander Coburn were destroyed. July 21, 1863 The 165th Regiment Pennsylvania Militia nearly all of whom are from this county, under the command of Col. Buehler, arrived here Sunday last their term of service (nine months) having expired. They have done excellent service in the campaign. The have been ordered here to be mustered out and paid off. D. McConaughy, Esq., of this place has, we learn, been appointed an aide to general Couch with the rank of Captain. July 28, 1863 We were much gratified to learn that Calvin Hamilton, son of Wm. S. Hamilton, Esq., who was wounded in the Battle of Gettysburg has not lost his leg as was first reported and published but only has a severe foot wound from which he is rapidly recovering. Died, (date illegible), at the residence of his mother near Gettysburg, Wm. McGraw, aged (illegible, 20 something) years, 8 months, 14(?) days, of wounds received on the battlefield of Gettysburg near the Round Top on the 2nd day of July. He was a member of Company K, formerly Captain Bailey’s, having entered the service in September of 1862. August 4, 1863 The following is a list of wounded and prisoners of Company F, 87th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. The wounded are at Winchester and the prisoners have been paroled and some are at Camp Parole at Annapolis, Maryland. Corp. Wm. L. Holtzworth Corp. Wm. McGonigal Duncan Little Wm. Grumbine Basil Little George Musser Fred Dustman(?) Walter Cassatt James Murray E.E. Skelly Z. Rogers George Ford James Steinour Daniel Reigle Samuel Fisher Henry Smith David Culp Wm. Fullerton Jacob Eckert Joseph Simpson Wm. Ziegler Jacob Rice Corp. Johnston Skelly was wounded in the right arm. Joshua Peiling was wounded in the right arm. Captain John McCreary of Company B, 128th Regiment (138th?) has been made a major of the regiment and Lt. Earnshaw captain of Company B. August 11, 1863 Died, on the 3rd inst., near East Berlin Twp., Harrison Hollinock(?), member of Company K, 138th (?) Regiment, 23 years, 3 months, 20 days. August 18, 1863 Died, on the 2nd inst., in Mount Pleasant Twp., John S. Eckenrode, son of John Eckenrode, aged 20 years, 1 month, 18 days. The deceased was a member of the 165th Regiment, P.M.. He was a good soldier and much respected by all who knew him. Died, on the 1st inst., in Butler Twp., Henry M. Thomas, member of the 165th Regiment, P.M., aged 31 years, 9 months, 29 days. He leaves a wife and five children to mourn their loss. September 1, 1863 Lt. Col. E.G. Fahnestock of this place has been appointed paymaster in the U.S. Army and has been ordered to duty at St. Louis. Died, on the 24th ult., Lt. Henry Haldeman of Cumberland Twp., 32 years. He was in the 165th Regiment, P.M. Died, on the 27th ult., John W. Plank of Cumberland Twp., aged 22 years, 9 months, 8 days. He served his term in the 165th. Died, on the 17th ult., at Fortress Monroe of typhoid fever, Albert Klingel (Mount Joy Twp., Adams Co.), a member of the 165th Pa. Militia, 19 years, 10 months, 2 days. Died, on the 28th June last, John Frey, son of Christian Frey of Hamiltonban Twp., aged about 23 and a member of Captain E. McGinley’s Company, 165th Regiment, P.M. Died, on the 6th ult., Lewis Benchoff, color sergeant in the 165th Regiment P.M., and a member of Captain E. McGinley’s company, aged about 33(?) years. Died, on the 8th ult., on board the hospital ship Crescent City, of typhoid fever, Louis D. Sell, Company C, 12th Illinois Volunteers, formerly of this county. September 15, 1863 Died, at Brashear City, Louisiana, on the 23rd June, Capt. John S. Cutter (or Cutler), 176th Regiment, N.Y.V., and formerly a graduate of Pennsylvania College, aged 25. September 29, 1863 Died, about the 25th August, on the Mississippi River between Memphis and Cairo, Robert Cobean (son of William Cobean), 22 years, of the 41st Illinois Volunteers, formerly of this county. October 6, 1863 Died, on the 30th August last, on the U.S. Hospital steamer McDougal, Wm. H.H. Deardorff, private in Company C, 13th (?) 18th (?) Regiment Illinois Volunteers, aged 23 years, 9 months, 4 days. Died, on the 12th August last in Littlestown, Simon Bittinger, Company C, 165th Regiment P.M., aged 28 years, 7 months, 7 days. (Transcriber’s note, not 100% sure it was 165th) Died, on the 25th ult., Mrs. Catharine Stultz, wife of Nicholas Stultz of Freedom Twp., aged bout 74. Died, on the 22nd ult., Joseph Brant of Littlestown, aged about 34(?) 84(?). Died, in Freedom Twp., on the 26th ult., Rebecca, aged 6 years, 9 months, 4 days, and on the 29th, Emmanuel, aged 3 years, 6 months, 8 days, both of diphtheria, children of Joseph and Maria Hershey. Died, on the 24th ult., in Cumberland Twp., after a lingering illness, Adam Logan Butt, aged 19 years, 11 months, 13 days. October 13, 1863 A letter from Col. Hambright of the 79th Pennsylvania to his wife, dated 24th ult., says: “Col. Miles is missing. The last I saw him was Saturday night but the darkness prevented us from knowing his fate. My opinion is that he is wounded and a prisoner…….The 79th lost about 110 officers and men and it is a miracle that any of us are living after being exposed to such a terrible fire………I now have only 100 men fit for duty.” Lt. James D. House of Company K, 77th Pennsylvania, has written to his parents and says that the regiment suffered very much in the recent battles and nearly all the officers were taken prisoner. Among them he mentions the following: Col. Rose, Lt. Col. Pyfer, Major Phillips, Captains Shroad, McDowell, and Robinson and Lieutenants Cochran, Garbeth and Kreps. October 27, 1863 Captain Hunter’s cavalry company from this county was in the fight at Charlestown, Virginia a week or two ago when the 9th Maryland “gobbled up” and behaved gallantly. One man was killed—Edwin Jordan—and two wounded—John Brown, a flesh wound in the thigh and William McIlhenny, a flesh wound in the shoulder. November 10, 1863 John Burns of Gettysburg arrived here Thursday afternoon, stopping at the Continental Hotel. Our readers are all aware with the active part taken in the Battle of Gettysburg by Mr. Burns, in which he was severely wounded. The old hero looks hale and hearty notwithstanding his age and the extent of his injury. He has served gallantly in the defense of his country. He was in the war with England in 1813 having marched to Canada and afterwards participating in several battles on the line and was discharged; but entered the army in 1814 and was engaged at Marens(?) Hook, engaged in the erection of fortifications. During all this service Mr. Burns won a soldier’s reputation which he re-established on the battlefield at Gettysburg. December 1, 1863 Died, on the 14th Nov., at Richmond, of typhoid fever, Leonard Wesley Wagner, of Capt. Diller’s (?) Company and grandson of Leonard Bricker(?) of this county, aged about 19. December 6, 1863 H.N Minnigh is now captain of Company K, P.R.V.C. George R. Kitzmiller is 1st Lt. John C. Brandon is 2nd Lt. December 15, 1863 In the late expedition of the Army of the Potomac across the Rapidan, there was heavy fighting. The 87th and 138th Regiments P.V., were in it and behaved nobly. They both suffered considerably. The following is a list of the killed and wounded from the Compiler. 87th Regiment P.V. Killed: George Ditzel, Company F Jacob Foose, Company K Mathias Foose, Company K D. Hoffman, Company K Wounded: Wm. Eicholtz, Company B Levi S. Frey, Company C Val. Rouch, Company E Cash Borth, Company G Wm. Strater, Company E Casper Klepman, Company E Wm. McCoy, Company B Wm. Quiggle, Company E Wm. Zerger, Company F James Mintis, Company D George Armor, Company D Missing: Corp. Hough, Company C Company B commanded by 1st Lt. Earnshaw, 18th P.V. Killed: Charles F. Ogden John F. Lookinbill Wm. A. Hennigh(?) Wounded: Levi Beck Robert Johnson John T. Weikert Thomas Fallon Company G, Commanded by Capt. Walter, 138th P.V. Killed: Jonas Eppleman Charles Slagle Wounded: Hiram T. Little Eliakim Walthey Cornelius Crist Martin Fehl Benjamin F. Deller December 22, 1863 Among the many brave men who gave their life for their country on the battlefield at Gettysburg none are more deserving of honor than Sgt. Emanuel M. Shultz, son of Andrew Shultz of York Springs. He was in command of his company—the other officers being sick or absent—and was leading them on to meet the enemy on the first day of July, when he was mortally wounded by a Rebel sharpshooter and like a brave soldier and patriot died with his face to the foe. A considerable time elapsed before any information as to his fate could be obtained or tot eh spot where he fell. The following is an extract from a letter written by the captain of his company, Captain W.L. Morey, Company G, 75th Regiment, O.V., which show the esteem in which he was held by his comrades in arms: “I was not engaged in that battle, being at that time in Washington and can give you only such information as I have received from members of our company—which gave me great pain to record the ill fate of Sgt. Shultz. He was a brave soldier, a good officer and a good man—universally respected throughout the regiment. So highly was he esteemed as an officer that he was recommended to the governor of Ohio for promotion to lieutenant. His commission is now in my possession. I only regret that he is not here to receive it. I send it to you and you have the gratification of knowing that he was well worthy of it. He died fighting for his country and his home and near that much loved spot he surrendered his life.” December 29, 1863 Letter from Camp Company K, 1st Regiment, P.R.V.C. December 16, 1863 Dear Sentinel: For some time you and your readers have been uninformed as to our many wanderings and whereabouts and our welfare generally. We are not situated along with Company H of our regiment about one mile towards Bull run from Manasses. The headquarters of the regiment and six companies are at the station and the two remaining companies are stationed about a mile beyond at the junction. Our duty is principally night duty, patrolling the railroad and keeping it clear of guerillas that infest this section of the country. The health of our regiment is excellent with the exception of a few colds. Many of us took cold on our late trip across the Rapidan during that bitter cold weather. We will ever remember the 30th November as one of the most trying days of our lives from morning till night we paced a woods to keep from freezing, not being allowed a spark of fire for fear of drawing the fire of the enemy’s batteries. We were moved from the center to the right of our lines about 3:00 in the morning, for the purpose of charging the Rebel left wing but they had so effectively plugged up “Mile Run” besides obstructing our passage by felling trees on the opposite bank that the idea of crossing was abandoned so that all that was left for us to do was to put in the day quietly until night again favored us with a good chance of escape. The Rebels did favor us with a few shells during the day but they did little or no damage. Jacob Stauffer who was one of the guards with our ammunition train was captured “in the wilderness” by a squad of Rebels. This was all the loss our company sustained in the late move. We are nicely fixed in our winter quarters. We wish our friends in old Adams County a Merry Christmas and for this time I bid you adieu. N.N.N. Transcribed by Christine Spencer, May, 2008