Soldier's Letter, Civil War, October 1862

 Oxford Times, October 29, 1862

Letter from the 114th NY Infantry

Upper Marlboro, Md. Oct. 17, 1862

Dear Sir:  I now take the opportunity to write a few lines and let you know how the boys of Co. H prosper.  You probably have learned that a detachment of our Co. have been sent to Upper Marlboro, a distance of eighteen miles southeast of Washington for the purpose of aiding the enrolling officer in discharging his duty. We left Camp Belger the last of September and soon found ourselves pleasantly in the cars on our way to the above place, and by 7 o'clock arrived at the Bladensburgh depot, six miles above Washington, where we halted for the night. The next morning with knapsacks strung we commenced our first march which is so common to the soldier and by passing o'er hill and dale, through the numerous tobacco plantations we reached Marlborough early in the evening, where we found another squad of men drawn up in line of battle ready for execution if it turned out to be the enemy.  The next morning we had a good view of the village, but O! castles in the air.  I have read of the sunny south and her fair daughters, but little did they compare with the scenes that were before me.  By this time the company was called together and marched for our camp ground, a distance of three quarters of a mile out of town in a grove of oak and cedar which we named after our Captain, Camp Bullock.  Here we enjoyed the pleasures of camp life for two weeks, when a cold rain storm came on. Then arrangements were made for us to move into the Methodist Church where we at present remain.  I would say to you a very important arrest of a young man who formerly was a lawyer of this place, but when the rebellion broke out he was one of the foremost to take up arms against his country.  He was engaged in the first battle of Bull Run, which from that date has acted as spy for the rebel government. He had  made a number of visits to this place, but always had friends who secreted him. We consider it an important arrest, one that will be a loss to rebeldom and a credit to the Union. We feel that we are doing something for our country, not only aiding the Provost Marshal in discharging his duty, but keeping down the rebellion in this place, for yesterday Capt. Bullock arrested the editor of the Marlbobo Gazette for printing a piece to discourage the draft which took place on the 15th.  But let turn up what will, may it ever be said that Co. H of Chenango and Madison will sustain the stars and stripes and ever be faithful in discharging their duties.   H.D.M.