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+Letter of Charles George to his Wife
+Relay House, Maryland\\
+July 11, 1864
+Darling — since I last wrote we have done some of the hardest fighting and
+marching on record. I can hardly believe that men can endure so much even
+when I see it with my own eyes. Take our 3rd Division and see what it has
+done!!!— When we left Petersburg they were all worn out with fatigue —
+marched through that awful dust, which is the worst thing man can do. It
+was so crowded on the boat that they got very little sleep that night — next
+night slept till 2 A.M. when we took the cars for Frederick city — arrived there
+about 11 A.M.— marched through the city — stopped long enough to eat breakfast then marched back again — had dinner then through again — took supper
+then at dark marched through it again and on down the turn pike about 3
+miles, crossed the Monocacy down to the rail road bridge. This march was
+very hard it being in the night and the roads bad — besides we were out of
+rations. We were routed out early Saturday morning — attempted to draw
+rations, but had to give up. The rebs were coming — we got into line of
+battle and drew rations as quick as we could, then commenced fighting about
+:00 A.M. and fought like tigers, five times our number — were overpowered
+and forced to retreat.
+We marched all night and till 4 oclock the next day, making about 40
+miles in 24 hours and then after being about worn out at that! Some came
+on cars but the most of us were on foot. Then we took the cars for this place
+(Relay House). We are doing picket duty under command of Colonel Henry.
+Since I commenced this we were routed out (100 days men) by the long roll
+call. The rebels are reported close — Commencing back to Friday morning —
+we did not get together on the cars, but the most of us band boys got on top
+of them. I laid down and had a good sleep. Everywhere along the road we were
+greeted with cheers, waving of flags and handkerchiefs. It made my heart choke
+to see their respect for the flag and the veterans of the Army of the Potomac.
+The people in the city were very hospitable — nearly every door had a pail of
+water for us. I will pass over the march to Monacacy and commence there.
+Herbert did not come in with the rest. While we were drawing rations
+Saturday morning the rebs were throwing shells among us. One man was
+wounded. After they took their final position we sought ours, but never found
+it till we got here. We scattered in 2 or 3 directions. I went to a store — saw
+a grist mill and got behind it — had just got there when some wounded came
+in — one from my Company. I helped dress their wounds, while doing so the
+shells came howling by close to us. When helping the boys into the ambulance
+several bullets struck close by — we took shelter near the canal, when a shell
+struck within 6 feet of us. We went for the Division Hospital, but never found
+it for the reason there wasn't any! We followed the rail road and under the
+protection of a little hill we found the ambulances and the wounded, which
+served for a hospital for the time being.
+Herbert was not very well and I thought I would stick to him — about
+noon our boys made a charge and drove the rebs but it soon became evident
+we were outnumbered. About 3:00 P.M. I heard the rebs making a charge and
+as there was no shells or bullets lying in our direction I went on to the hill to
+watch the battle, and I saw what but few ever get a chance to see — a battle
+where both sides can be seen. The rebs were charging down the hill upon our
+men —I knew it was our Brigade. They had 3 lines of battle where we had
+only one. Their lines overreached ours on both ends — in fact we were assailed
+on 3 sides — pretty soon the wounded began to come in — the fields were dotted all over with bodies, but not so thick on our side as theirs. Our unerring
+rifles told heavily upon them. We drove them back once, but then they charge
+our left and drove it a little, but they were stubborn about retreating a few
+rods, which they were forced to do, but then they again took a stand and
+charged our center. We had to give way but slowly! On our right we had a
+battery, but they had 5 times as many men —finally they turned their batteries
+on our retreating column —and I left! We all went on the retreat. I went to
+the next hill and stopped to see the progress of the battle and to help the wounded along. I was helping one wounded man, whom I almost had to
+carry, but the rebel cavalry came in so close it meant loss of life or capture
+and I had to leave him. I had to run like everything as it was! I came up to
+the rear of the straggling column — we all took it slowly until danger of sunstroke was past. I overtook Herbert 6 or 8 mile from Monocacy and stuck
+with him. If I hadn’t he never would have got up. I carried his trunk and led
+him by the hand part of the way — he gave out about 20 miles further (about
+half way here). We stopped and lay down till morning. We both took a drink
+of whiskey. (for the first time).
+I routed him out at the first appearance of daylight — we had slept nearly
+four hours. We felt some rested and pushed on — resting occasionally. Came
+up with the Division about 8:00 A.M. in camp — they had been there only
+about 15 minutes.
+Herbert threw away his knapsack and all but his rubber blanket — I took
+his shirt and feetings. We made our breakfast of coffee (made with cold water
+and strained through a towel) and hard tacks. The column started soon after
+we came up. Herbert soon gave out — I helped him along — he kept falling
+back — finally I got him a ride behind another rider just before he staggered
+and fell, The rest helped him along so that he got within 6 or 7 miles of our
+next stop. We managed to get into Ellicot's Mills along with the rest —— I don't
+know quite how we did it. I am just as tough as a man can be — I guess I
+could have gone on to Baltimore, 10 miles further.
+//"Bully For The Band!" : The Civil War Letters And Diary Of Four Brothers In The 10th Vermont Infantry Band//, Charles George, Herbert George, Jere George, Osman George.
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 RELAY HOUSE, July 12, 1864.
-* * * Perhaps you will wonder how my letter came to be dated at this place. I can tell you in a few words: simply because we are here. But to begin; at daylight on last Wednesday morning, July 6th, our division orders were to be ready to move immediately, and started at once for City Point, report said to take the boat at City Point, 12 miles distant, for Harper's Ferry. It being very warm and the dust any where from three inches to half knee deep, and we going pretty fast, you can rightly imagine that it was very hard marching. We arrived at about noon and took the boast by 3 o'clock and started about 4; we sailed all night and reached Baltimore Thursday afternoon at 4 o'clock, making the passage in 24 hours — Here we remained on the boat till 1 o'clock, when we landed and took the cars and start of for Frederick City at 3 A. M, Friday, which point we reached at 9 1-2 o'clock A. M. We marched and countermarched thro’  the city several times, and after stopping to  get dinner started for Frederick Junction,  which place could have been reached by  march of only three miles, but they took us around a distance of full ten miles, and our destination was not reached until midnight of Friday. The rebels were already in the vicinity and a small fight had occurred the day before near Frederick. Saturday morning we were moved round into position and pickets were sent out, and immediately after, skimishing commenced and very soon one of our company—Geo. Poor-came in wounded. He was hit in the right arm, just below the elbow and had one bone broken. During the middle of the forenoon the rebels commenced throwing shell and soon the fighting opened in earnest. We did not get into it much before noon, but the rebels having the much the largest force, the most artillery, (we had only seven pieces) and the best position take it all in all they were too much for us. The enemy had two or three lines of battle. and we only one. There force was estimated at 20,000, while we had only 6,000. In the afternoon the fighting was severe, neither side had entrenchments and in plain sight each other, all we had to do was to load and fire as fast as possible, I never want any better mark to shoot at than I had on that day. The battle raged until about four o'clock; when it was ascertained that they had got us nearly surrounded and were about to "gobble" us all up, did we not make good our escape. We began to fall back with the rebels close on to us and they took a good many prisoners. We had a hard time of it, for it had been a very hot day, and by the constant hard fighting the boys were most "played out." The whole division was soon scattered—some on one road and some on another, but we all went in one direction, i. e. —towards Baltimore. It was such a time as I never saw before — a regular "skedaddle." I came down the railroad with five others of my company, and after going some 15 or 20 miles we found some hand cars which we put on the track and came some 35 to 40 miles in this way, and by traveling nearly all night succeeded in reaching Elicott's Mills, 15 miles above Baltimore,Sunday noon, 10th. At this point, what remained of our division came together, and Sunday night we came down here to the Relay House. Our division had lost heavily; a good many were killed and wounded, and a large number taken prisoners. It is hoped many of the missing will yet come in. Our regiment musters only 200 to 230 men now. B.
+* * * Perhaps you will wonder how my letter came to be dated at this place. I can tell you in a few words: simply because we are here. But to begin; at daylight on last Wednesday morning, July 6th, our division orders were to be ready to move immediately, and started at once for City Point, report said to take the boat at City Point, 12 miles distant, for Harper's Ferry. It being very warm and the dust any where from three inches to half knee deep, and we going pretty fast, you can rightly imagine that it was very hard marching. We arrived at about noon and took the boats by 3 o'clock and started about 4; we sailed all night and reached Baltimore Thursday afternoon at 4 o'clock, making the passage in 24 hours — Here we remained on the boat till 1 o'clock, when we landed and took the cars and start of for Frederick City at 3 A. M, Friday, which point we reached at 9 1-2 o'clock A. M. We marched and countermarched thro’  the city several times, and after stopping to  get dinner started for Frederick Junction,  which place could have been reached by  march of only three miles, but they took us around a distance of full ten miles, and our destination was not reached until midnight of Friday. The rebels were already in the vicinity and a small fight had occurred the day before near Frederick. Saturday morning we were moved round into position and pickets were sent out, and immediately after, skimishing commenced and very soon one of our company—Geo. Poor-came in wounded. He was hit in the right arm, just below the elbow and had one bone broken. During the middle of the forenoon the rebels commenced throwing shell and soon the fighting opened in earnest. We did not get into it much before noon, but the rebels having the much the largest force, the most artillery, (we had only seven pieces) and the best position take it all in all they were too much for us. The enemy had two or three lines of battle. and we only one. There force was estimated at 20,000, while we had only 6,000. In the afternoon the fighting was severe, neither side had entrenchments and in plain sight each other, all we had to do was to load and fire as fast as possible, I never want any better mark to shoot at than I had on that day. The battle raged until about four o'clock; when it was ascertained that they had got us nearly surrounded and were about to "gobble" us all up, did we not make good our escape. We began to fall back with the rebels close on to us and they took a good many prisoners. We had a hard time of it, for it had been a very hot day, and by the constant hard fighting the boys were most "played out." The whole division was soon scattered—some on one road and some on another, but we all went in one direction, i. e. —towards Baltimore. It was such a time as I never saw before — a regular "skedaddle." I came down the railroad with five others of my company, and after going some 15 or 20 miles we found some hand cars which we put on the track and came some 35 to 40 miles in this way, and by traveling nearly all night succeeded in reaching Elicott's Mills, 15 miles above Baltimore,Sunday noon, 10th. At this point, what remained of our division came together, and Sunday night we came down here to the Relay House. Our division had lost heavily; a good many were killed and wounded, and a large number taken prisoners. It is hoped many of the missing will yet come in. Our regiment musters only 200 to 230 men now. B.
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-//A war of the people : Vermont Civil War letters//, 1999
+//A war of the people:Vermont Civil War letters//, Jeffrey D. Marshall, ed., 1999
+----
+Letter of Herbert George to his Wife
+Relay House, Maryland\\
+July 14th, 1864
+Dear folks at home
+Just a word —I am all tired out & cant seem to get rested any although
+we have been here doing nothing for 3 days. We went up to Frederick &
+fought the rebs — got whipped & had to retreat 40 miles in a hurry. Such a
+hard march I never had. I'll tell you all about it when I feel like it. I came
+near falling out & being taken prisoner. My first Bass player was taken prisoner
+& the other one is sick. Two others sick & I’m about sick so the Band is
+played out for a day or two. Our regt is pretty small now. Only about 200
+muskets and guess it will fall short of that. We are now ordered to move somewhere but can't tell anything about were.
+//"Bully For The Band!" : The Civil War Letters And Diary Of Four Brothers In The 10th Vermont Infantry Band//, Charles George, Herbert George, Jere George, Osman George.
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Howard County, MD in the Civil War

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