Poughkeepsie Eagle Mar. 7, 1863
Headquarters Purnell Legion,
Md. Vols., Frederick City,
Md., March 1, 1863
Dear Eagle:
Although ‘tis Sunday evening, and the church bells are ringing, still I must either write to-night or not at all. Not that the Sabbath is to me a day of leisure, on the contrary all my work has fallen on this day.
Last Saturday being a pleasant day I took the notion of riding down to Harper’s Ferry to visit a friend - Lieut. Brauner, formerly of the 5th New York, but who is now Adjutant of the 7th Maryland. On mentioning the subject to our surgeon he agreed to accompany me. We mounted our horses and started. The day was beautiful and the roads pretty good, and we promised ourselves a very pleasant ride.
The country through which we passed is a very pretty landscape and well settled. It shows throughout the signs of war, viz. desolation - although in a very small degree. We arrived without any accident at the Ferry. The place seemed more forlorn than usual. I found my friend’s regiment was encamped on Maryland Heights. The Doctor and I here parted, he going over the Ferry to see some friends, while I took my journey Heavenward. I arrived at my destination about 2 o’clock P.M. and was received by Lieut. Brauner with many hand shakings. As it was the first meeting since last winter many were the questions and answers that flew between us. The time passed swiftly away till supper time when I sat down to one of the best suppers I ever ate in camp. Our circle was enlivened by the presence of the wife of one of the officers. We chatted merrily till tattoo sounded, after which we adjourned to the tent of the officer of the day where we had some very fine music. The night was pleasant, but imagine my surprise in the morning on awakening and finding a furious snow storm raging while the ground was deeply covered. Matters did not look very promising for a twenty miles ride, but it was Sunday and as usual important work lay at my tent in Frederick which must be attended to; and many expressions of regret at my short stay and invitations to come again, I mounted my horse who stood impatiently pawing the snow, and started for home. On my descent from the Heights I beheld a most beautiful landscape before me. The snow was falling and the side of the mountain was covered, while at its foot rolled the broad Potomac swelled the recent rains and the green Shenandoah came rushing down Loudon Heights to meet it, swelling it to a torrent which raised as it rolled toward the Bay. In the distance was Harper’s Ferry, its ruins looking like spectres amid the garb of snow which partially covered them, while afar off loomed up Loudon Heights. [?]. But such a view must be seen to be appreciated. I found the Doctor waiting at the foot of the hill for me. He dissuaded me from the attempt to reach Frederick. But neither time, tide nor the War Department wait for dilatory Adjutants, so all the arguments went to swell the gale that was blowing. Onward we went, but at Knoxville the Doctor found his boots nearly full of snow, we dismounted and went into the hotel. He filled the legs of his boots with paper and started again. The storm was terrible and we were facing it. Every flake seemed an arrow destined for our faces. Still forward we went. "There’s a covered bridge a few miles ahead," says the Doctor where we can dismount and warm ourselves. Onward still, onward was not exactly the cry but the action. Soon the welcome bridge hove into sight, and we alighted. For half an hour we went through motions more vigorous than graceful, then mounted and continued our journey. At a little place called Jefferson we stopped for a dinner for ourselves and our horses. After getting thoroughly warmed we continued our ride. We had heretofore been riding in the valley, we now had to surmount the hills that skirt this city. It was terrible - the wind howled and the snow fell more rapidly, while to add to our troubles, the road which had seemed going down was drifted very bad and it was as much as our beast could do to flounder through it. But all troubles must have an end - soon the welcome city of Frederick was reached. People stared at us as we rode through the streets as though we were visitors from the other world. And I assure you either of us would have made a good picture to illustrate the month of February. Our hair and whiskers were lumps of ice, while our faces were coated with the same article. But we were home, and a good fire made everything all right again, and we laughed over our adventure.
There is nothing stirring in this place in the shape of news. Business is slowly improving and the March winds are drying the roads.
S.H.B. Jr.