West Phila. Aug. 23rd, 1863
Dear Grand Father,
As I am sitting here by my stand this lovely morning with no papers to read (for the reason that none came here today) that will interest me so much as to seat myself with my pen and paper before me and relate a few circumstances (as a history of the last two months) to you of my life. And I sincerely trust that it will serve to pass away a few of those leisure moments of which I have so oftentimes seen you rock away in your old arm chair. And knowing it will occupy a lonely part of this day, with me, in recalling the past events of the last two months to my pen, I’ll proceed.
On the 12 of June last we received orders to strike tents and march in half an hour ( 5 o’clock a.m.) of which was all done. And we were on the move at the precise time, five a.m. We this day marched 25 miles and lay overnight at a place called Deep Run. Next morning marched on and at night found ourselves at Bields Station on the Orange and Alexandria Rail Road, of which place we lay overnight and as usual marched on in the morning. . And during this day we received orders to get to Manassas Junction if possible by morning. And thus we had marched all of 30 miles this day, and when night came the order given to march all night. Was hard, but we had to do it. And morning at about 8 a.m. found us at the junction. A distance of not less than 48 miles in 24 hours. We lay there 4 hours to rest and then marched to Bull Run and here we rested an hour and then moved to Centreville where we lay thirty six hours.
During this time I was taken sick with a chill and had to turn my gun over for the first time since I came out. And this was the fist day we heard the Rebs was in Penn.
On the morning of the 18th we marched to Guilford’s Station on the Alexandria and Leesburg R.R. and lay overnight. And next day we only moved camp 4 miles to get water at Broad Run. I had to ride in an ambulance this short distance and it was the first time since I came out.
We lay here until the 25th and the regt. Was on picket once I had done no duty up to this date since we left Centreville We got our mail this day for the first time since we left the Rappahannock in which I had five letters. And then at about 8 a.m. we got orders to march and on we went coming to the Potomac at 10 a.m. and crossed at Edwards Ferry. Then marching about 2 miles and stopping for dinner. And in the afternoon marched to to Barnesville and lay overnight. And while we was marching along the 1st, 5th, 6th Mich. Cavl. passed us but I could not pick Lewis out.
Next day, 26th, we marched across (over) the mountains and crossed the Monacacy river and thence to Jeffersonville, Northwest of Harpers Ferry. About ten miles but in plain sight. Next day we marched to Middletown and lay overnight about 3 miles from there.
We next day marched in the afternoon and reached Frederick, Md. And next morning marched through Lewistown and Mechanickstown and through to Emmitsburg and lay overnight. I saw Marshall of the 5th cavl. And he told me Lewis was alright. Emmitsburg is only one mile from the state line of Penn. and Md. We marched next morning about ten miles. Camped at noon and was mustered for pay in the afternoon.
JULY 1st. Memorable Wednesday morning we was ordered to march and on we went till the crack of muskets and the roar of cannon brought us to a halt. But it was not long before on we went and come up to the enemy without our guns being loaded and they let volley after volley into our ranks, one of which br’ot our noble color bearer down. Yet on we went and at the same time loading our guns and coming into line (all done in a half an hour). And then charge on them was the order and we charged and captured their whole line of battle, or most of it. I don’t know the number of prisoners but they was all marched off to the rear and kept safe.
So far we had won the day but it cost us many lives of whom one was our Major General Reynolds and others that I have not time to mention.
We fell back a short distance and lay in the woods about 3 hours but there was skirmishing in the front all of the time. And at about 4 p.m. we saw the Rebs coming in force with three lines of battle to our one and was shamefully ordered to stand them without the support of either troops or cannon. Thus we stood in line and fired for full 20 minutes while they had three lines firing into ours. After we was all cut up they ordered a retreat of which was done in some confusion and but few got back without a scratch and many not at all. In that struggle I got a slight wound and got in the village of Gettysburg and lay until the 6th, when we started off for some hospital. We took the cars at Gettysburg and went to Baltimore. Thence here where we have been well cared for and I am most ready to go back to the regt. There is no news that happens here that you care to hear. Only Clark and all the rest are doing well.
Well Gran Pa I have filled this full and if it serves to while away your leisure time as I spoke of, it will accomplish its object. Remember me to Grand Ma and all the others who may inquire.
I will now close hoping to hear from you soon.
Very Truly your obedient
Grand Son
R. Root
A Transcription of this letters is in the Harrisburg Civil War Round Table, Gregory A. Coco Collection at the U.S. Army Military History Institute at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. Used with the permission of USAMHI.
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