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Camp near Falmouth, Va
March 8th 1863
Mr. C. O. Hile
Dear Sir. This being Sun-
day, and as I feel quite lonesome, seated
in an old smoky tent. I thought I would
occupy the time in writing a few lines to
you. As you are aware I was ordered back
to my regiment. I arrived here on the
evening of the 23rd of February all safe &
rite[?]. And I think it was one of the coldest
days I ever felt. The snow was full
ten inches deep, when I came here.
I found the boys (what was left of them)
all safe and in fine spirits, and they
seemed to be quit[e] glad that I had got
back. And I am sure I was glad to
see so many of them alive and well.
Asa I did not see. He was sent away from
the Regt., to the Hospital at Windmill
Point some time before I came back
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and was moved afterwards to Washington
and was put in the Hospital there. I stay-
ed one day in Washington trying to find
him, but could not find out what
Hospital he was in. I would have stayed
another day looking for him, but I dare not
for fear of being arrested, as soldiers are not
allowed in Washington without a pass.
So I had to come away without seeing him.
I learned from some of the boys that saw
him when he left Windmill Point that [he]
was getting better and they thought he was
not dangerous.
When I came back to the regiment, the weath-
er being verry could, and I having only
one blanket, and having no good place
to sleep, I caught a verry bad cold,
attended with a cough and have not
felt verry well since.
The old flag that was presented to
us more thena year ago at Camp Bettie
Black is here yet with no less than
forty seven (47) bullet holes through
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it. The boys have noble defended
it. When I look at it a thrill of
Patriotism runs through me and I
sometimes wish I could have been along
to [have] shared in its defence.
we are encamped just two and one half miles
from Fredericksburg. I went up on the Hill
the other day and had a full view of the
late Battle ground. At the latter place
I had a view of the Rappahannock river
it is just about half as wide as the Allegheny
river is at Millers Eddy. we can see
the rebble camps. and there batteries on the
high Hills on the opposite side of the river
it seems to me that Burnsides must have
acted the part of a novice to throw our
army across the river at this place
and the rebels haveing such a advan-
tage of the hills that the[y] had here,
how many of our brave men slept
there last here, all on account of
mismanagement. Give us Gen Mc
Clellan. if the[y] want to save the union
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well orr[?]. I will close this
scribbling for the present. And
I would like very much if you
would write to me.
Yours with respect
Wm Hagerson
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