Heckert, D.P., fl. 1862 to cousin [Lydia A. Bishoff]

Heckert came to Oakhill last Thursday evening and joined his regiment which had arrived there 3 weeks before. The regiment had a hard time getting there from Cumberland Gap. The men were for 13 days without any rations except what corn they could get from the fields, but they all "came through stout and hearty." The Rebels were before them and behind them -- blockading the road ahead and marching behind waiting for a chance to attack -- but the Union men kept in such a position so as to prevent the Rebels from attacking. Tomorrow he expects to go into Virginia up the Kanawa River to Mount Pleasant. He does not know how soon he will then go further into Virginia. He wishes that he and his regiment would come down into the mountains, because then he would get a furlough.

[1862/10/19] [Oakhill Post Office, Jackson, VA], D. P. H[eckert] on behalf of R.L. Foglesong to his sister [Lydia A. Bishoff] 2p. re: He came to the Regiment at the Oakhill Post Office and found a ragged set of soldiers. Some of them did not have any shirts or pants or overcoats. The previous morning there was a pretty hard frost and it made them shiver. But they are getting "Rigged all New now and it makes them feel good." They originally had no tents except what the officers had, and there were only 2 camp kettles for all 8 or 9 hundred men to cook, but they are getting new tents, and they brought "1 H kettles and 1 H messpans and now it Goes Better." He received a letter from George who is well. Written at the Oakhill Post Office .