Manley Stacey Civil War Letters

Monocacy Junction
3 Brig, 3 Division 2d Army Corps
June 28th

Dear Father

I wrote you a letter yesterday, & put it in my pocket, intending to write more & seal it up, but I sweated & so it got sealed. I left off, in the morning, after I wrote the letter, I laid down to sleep, & was awakened, by the Order at 3 PM, Fall in, for the March. We all expected to lay over Sunday, at this Camp, We then started, for Poolsville 5 miles distance, this we marched in a very short time, the next place we came to was Barnsville, We marched, until 9 PM, when we halted, for the night. I never have been so Completely exhausted in my life, as I was then, it seemed as if I could not drag one foot, before the other. They marched us cruelly, so fast, that the Capt, said he did not expect, to have half, of his men, when they Halted. We should not have gone quite as far, but the General was Signaled, to march his men as far as possible.

This morning at 8 AM, we started, for Frederick City, 15 miles. This has been the easiest days march that I have ever had. Genl Hayes had comand [sic] & rested us often, we have just taken it slow & easy arriving here at 4 PM, we have Pitched our Tents on the Bank, of the River, & tonight have had, a good wash. We are Camped near the RR Bridge, but a short distance, from where we were, last fall.

Tonight, it is reported that McClenan has got command, of the Army again, The old Troops are Cheering a great deal over it. It is reported, here that they are Fighting at South Mountain, 17 miles from here. We should not be surprised if we have to go there yet, tonight. Now we are at a stand still. of course we know not what a day may bring forth. I shall hope to hear from you tomorrow, When we are marching, around so, we shall not get, nor can we send it regularly.

This is a Beautiful sunday morning evening, I would give a great deal, to go to Church tonight, it has seemed but little like sunday, to us today.

I will write again soon

Manley