Clapp, George (fl. 1839-1892) to Parents

Clapp says Charles Town is in Virginia, but was mistaken. Received two letters from them yesterday. One also came with $1, socks, suspenders, and a handkerchief, all of which he appreciated greatly. Does not get mail as regularly as while at Petersburg. In "the last 48 hours… we had no sleep nor not a mouthful of food." Encountered some farm animals and killed them, but did not have much time to prepare and cook them. His brigade was sent back to Winchester, Virginia to wait for the supply train while the rest of the corps marched south. The supply train consists of over 3,000 wagons full of rations. "Sheridan may be a good man to command cavalry, but we don't want anything more to do with him." One night, just as they were getting to bed, orders came in for the whole regiment to go on picket duty. Did not mean to worry or upset them by the tone of his earlier letters. "I am much ashamed of myself to think I let my temper run away with me." Tells them not to believe stories printed in the papers of how Sheridan "forced the enemy up the Valley and punished them dreadfully." The reality is that Sheridan would not engage the Confederates at Strasburg and instead let them attack the Army of the Shenandoah's supply train three times. Jokes that he has been transferred in and out of Harpers Ferry so many times that the 6th corps should rename itself "Harpers Weekly." Morale is low at camp; wishes Sedgwick were still alive to rally the troops. Would readily trade places with either Sid or Elisha in order to leave this camp. In the valley there are miles and miles of cornfields with no one to tend them. Living off the land has given them plenty to eat. Got a letter from Sylvester Bridgman the other day. Sends his love to his aunts.