Hagerstown, Maryland
July 26, 1861

My Dear Wife,

I now take my pen to let you know that I am well and hope this will find you the same. We are still in this place but how long we shall stay here I can’t tell but it won’t be long for they are moving all the government stores from here to Harpers Ferry and I think we shall go with them as we are to guard them. But I hope not for I am in prison enough as it is. Half of our regiment are in Martinsburg and the other half are scattered all over the country. Our company has just got back from Harpers Ferry where they have been to guard some wagons. I did not go with them for I was sick when they went away but am better now. I hope this will find you well for I could not get home if you and all the rest of the folks were dying. All volunteers has about twenty days liberty out of each year but I don’t think any of us will have it. Our Colonel says that he don’t believe our regiment will be together again till he takes them home to disband them and he says that if we ain’t paid and have our rifles sent to us in twenty days from now that he will carry us back to Hartford again and keep us there until they do pay us. This I hope he will do for I am tired of camp life.

I got another letter last night and was glad to hear that you was all well and was very glad of them stamps that she sent me. I hope you will send me that cake as soon as you can for I want to eat something from home. I hope it won’t be like Charles Knight, for his wife has been a going to send him one for about a month now and he ain’t git it yet. And I guess he won’t either.

I should like to see you all and I will as soon as I can but it may be three years before I can. But I hope not for I shall die before that time. I hope that Mat will write to let me know how my folks is for I have not heard from them for a long time. Give my love to all and tell them I would like to see them and let me know how the times is in New London and what kind of a 4th of July you have there. And don’t tell me of my giving my daguerreotype to any more women of the kind there is here, for gracious sake. I am sorry that you thought so bad of me as that. You might know that if anyone got it, it would be you—and you shall have it as soon as I can get it to you. And I want you to be sure and send me yours just as soon as you can for I want to have it very much. Be sure and send it to me for I want to see it. It will cost about 25 cents to send it here andI must have it at any rate. I must now close this with my love to you and all. Good night. From your affectionate husband, — Chet

Be sure to send your daguerreotype and that cake. — Chet