Corporal Titus Moss Letters - Cheshire Historical Society

Corporal Titus Moss Letters, September 1862 – March 1863 Page 19
Letter Number 8 written by Titus Moss on 8 October 1862
From an envelope addressed to Mrs. Titus Moss, West Cheshire,
Conn. and marked 8 th
Camp near Harpers Ferry Oct 8 th 62
My Dear Wife
There is a few minutes before the drum beats for drill and feeling a
strong desire to hear from you.
I was broke off rather quicker than I expected, our Co. was
sent out on picket duty about four miles from camp we got off
track and went some distance out of the way before we discovered
the mistake and then had to hurry to make up time. The sun was
very hot and my cloths were fairly well saturated with perspiration.
I was not very well in the morning and when we got to our
journey’s end felt pretty near used up. We cam acrost some men
that had been outon a scout from our camp so I ask to come back
to camp this is
2 first time that I have given out I had strong signs of dysentery
had to stop several times by the way. We came back leasurely and
before I got back felt quite comfortable I looked over my medicen
and took what I thought was best. After resting a little while I eat a
good dinner which was better than usual. By the middle of the
afternoon felt about as usual. I will tell the circumnstances just as
they are. Co. A was ordered to report to Gen Hanes quarters at
halfpast eight there was no time to loos we hurried off a quickly as
possible supposing we were coming back again but in the place of
that we were sent the other way. We had a few canteens with us
but noth ing to eat the General said we would be releaved at four
Oclock. Capt said he thought we could stand it till then so we went
on. But when we got there we made up our minds that we should
not get back until morning. I had come back and got dinner, and
thought I would try to get some to the boys. There were ten or
3
twelve left in camp for a guard. Five are detailed every day from
each Co. to guard the camp the next day those are free from duty
until dress parade which is just at night. I went to the Co. that we
releaved which was the Hamden Co. Lieyt D said they would not
get back so I went to the Col tent and ask to go with rations, telling
him how it was. He used hard words towards Capt. G and said he
The Cheshire Historical Society
Cheshire, Connecticut 06410
http://www.cheshirehistory.org
April 2005