(Stationery has an engraving ‘View of the Capital at Washington’)
General Smith headquarters 3 miles Southeast of Lexington Sept 28,/62
I received a letter and 3 Dollars from you by the hand of George Sacket the 26th I have now received two letters from home. I am well at present and have very good fare. Our Company is Garding General Smiths headquarters about 3 miles Southeast from Lexington and our Regt is about 2 miles beyond us in Camp and a poor one to Their was 50 reported sick yesterday morning in the Regt and the Doc says they will all be sick if they do not move they are in a Cornfield and very poor water and not much of it our Company has been detaled to garde the General and I dont know how long we will hold our position but I think it will be for some time the Boys all like it and we have a furst rate time here plenty to eat and drink and that’s all we want we have had no fight yet and little prospect of it unless we advance there is a good many secesh round here but they are afraid to say anything there was one in Newport that let out some of her slang and got well paid for it When we went through Newport the Ladies came out with water Cakes Aples and peaches and give to the Soldiers and one of the women came out dressed up very nice with her silk and made fun of the Ladies that were giving to the Solders and one of them pitshed at her pounded her and tore her silk dress most of her and she went and took her in the law and they brought them up and heard the story and told the old secesh to go home and mind her bisness and not make fun of union Ladies there is a good many union folks here and good many Rebs but they are afraid of the bloody 96th we are Said to be the best Regt in our Brigade they say we make a better appearance on dress perade than the Regulars that have been in servace over a year. you sent me 3 dollars which I am not in use of at present and dont know as I should of wanted it but it was as good a Chance to send it as you would have and mabee I shall want it before I draw again I got my mittings that you sent mittings money & letter was all I beleave I dont know what to write hardly there is not much new it is about the same thing I like the Contry better than I did when we first Came here it is very brocken and hilley and the roads wind round the hills they work the roads so they are good they are all paved with stone we have a guarde acrost the road at headquarters which is in a large tavern a very pleasent place you spoke about sending a papre you may send them if you are a mind to no more at presnet. (Signed at top of page) Lu Car
Same date as above–another sheet with capitol engraving
September 28 /62
Sunday. it is very still and pleasent but it looks some like rain. we are 3 miles Southeast from Covington guarding General Smith’s headquarters he is in a large Tavern closte beside the road to the North of the house is a high board fence and we drove down stakes and laid on posts and laid rails on the fence and posts and then put on hay for a cover this morning we had inspection and napsacks I went out into a grove upon a hill a short distence from the quarters and could hear about 10 bells ringing in Cincinnati Covington and Newport for Afternoon meeting which sounded very solemn and made me think of home the Country is very hilly and some pretty large ones and When we get a Chance to get out and look round it seems more pleasent I like the Country better than I did when I first Came here but would not like it well enough to live here they do not do up farming on a very large scale the principal Crops are Grapes & Sweey potatoes the side hill are Covered with them and other trash that they take to market they go regular every Day the most of them have a one horse wagon with an old poor hores and the Cities are lined with them every day Monday 29th this is a very pleasent Day it is a sort of smoky and seems like fall.. I am on guard to day there is 4 guards in the day time and 6 at night there is one acost the road two in front of the Tavern and one back side of the house to the gate that opens in the yard and at night there is two to guard the Comissary. I was stationed at the gate back side of the Tavern and have a chance to set down and those in front have to walk a beat it is easier to sit down but in the night there is danger of getting to sleep.
Tuesday 30th I came of duty this morning 9 oclock. did not drill any till after noon. nothing particular hapened to day. it is a very pleasent Day rather warm we got our tents from Camp last night and cleaned the ground of nice and clean and put up our tents so we have it very nice now
Wednesday Oct 1 last night there was picket firing and the long role was beat in the direction of Camp Haing (?) that is about 2 miles west of us and this morning there is heavy Cannoning in the direction of fort Mitchel that is about 6 miles west there is a telegraph wire than runs from ft Mitch to General Smiths quarters and we got news this morning that they were Skermishing over there but I think there is no use for Covington and Newport are surrounded with forts and rifle pits and plenty of good men to protect them
(May be another sheet as this is not signed)