Letter written by Rush P. Cady, lieutenant in the 97th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Company K, from Jefferson, Maryland, June 26, 1863 to his father, Daniel Cady, of Rome, New York, includes a letter written by G. M. Palmer on June 27, 1863 to hi

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PAGE IMAGE Jefferson, Md. (Maryland) (Jefferson, Maryland)   June 26th 63 Dear Father (Cady, Daniel) ,

I have but a few min-
utes in which to write. We have had two
day's very hard marching, leaving our
camp near Guilford Station (Guilford Station, Fairfax County, Virginia) , yesterday
morning. We came to Edwards Ferry (Edwards Ferry, Maryland) , a
distance of about 6 ½ miles, where we
crossed by the Pontoon Bridge – which
contained about 65 boats – over a quar-
ter of a mile wide. Another bridge
was then being laid – both in charge of
the 50th Reg. (50th Regiment) About noon it com-
menced raining, & has continued raining
nearly ever since. We crossed the Potomac (Polomac River)
about 2 P.M. came through Poolesville (Poolesville, Maryland)
(about 4 mi. from the Ferry (Edwards Ferry, Maryland) ) & Barnesville (Barnesville, Maryland)
(8 mi. further) bivouacking for the night
a mile one side of the latter
place, having marched nearly 20 miles.
It was a very fatiguing march, & as

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PAGE IMAGE it was raining at the time we stopped
for the night, & we were then much
wet, we could not make ourselves
very comfortable – many being without
blankets. Of course our wagons did not
come up with us. I felt rather misera-
ble this morning, but not really sick.

We have marched 13 or 14 mi.
today – the roads being very muddy & bad.
We came again through Barnesville (Barnesville, Maryland) , crossed
the Manocacy (Monocacy) (Monocacy River, Maryland) over a long bridge at Greenfield (Greenfield, Maryland) ,
came through Adams' Town (Adamstown) (Adamstown, Maryland) , a
small village on the Baltimore & Ohio R.R. (Baltimore & Ohio Railroad)
17 mi. from Harper's FerryHarpers Ferry, West Virginia. The country
through which we have marched – in Mo. (Missouri) (Missouri)
Looks very fine – the farming lands as
good as I ever saw – magnificent crops of
wheat, which they are already harvesting.
The corn too is very fine. We crossed the
Catoctanrange (Catoctin Range, Maryland) this afternoon (which
is intersected by the Potomac (Potomac River) at Point
of Rocks. The view from the Mt.
of the Middletown Valley (Middletown Valley (Catoctin Valley), Maryland) is exceedingly

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PAGE IMAGE Beautiful. This is a nice little village
of 3 or 400 inhabitants – mostly Union
people. It is 6 miles from here to
BurkettsvilleBurkettsville, Maryland (not far beyond which is
Cramptons Gap (Crampton's Gap, Frederick, Maryland) , in the South Mt. (Mountain))
& the same distance to Middletown (Middletown, Maryland) ,
probably only 10 miles to South Mountain (South Mountain, Maryland) ,
which we expect to march tomorrow.

It is reported that the rebs
are in force on South Mountain (South Mountain, Maryland) , and
are fortifying. We are anticipating
a fight there on Sunday.

I think nearly all of Hooker (Hooker, Joseph (General)) 's Ar-
my (General Hooker's Army) has come across into Md. (Maryland) (Maryland) Though
perhaps some troops have gone above
to Harpers Ferry (Harpers Ferry, West Virginia) , on the Va (Virginia) (Virginia) . Side. Some
corps have taken the Harpers Ferry (Harpers Ferry, West Virginia) road
in Md. (Maryland) (Maryland) The 11th Corps (11th Corps) is ahead of us, hav-
ing marched thro' here this morning.

Gustavus (Palmer, Gustavus M. (Captain)) & I are staying at a pri-
vate house tonight, where we have the
privilege of sleeping on the floor. The mail
goes out rather early in the morning

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PAGE IMAGE and it is getting late, so I must close.
Will write tomorrow, if I have time
before we march.

With much love to all.
Your son, Rush P. Cady (Cady, Rush Palmer (Lieutenant)) . June 27th 1863 Dear Sister

Rush (Cady, Rush Palmer) has been writing
all the news about the movements of
the army, so I will not attempt to
say anything about it. We have
just finished our breakfast which
done us good I tell you. We staid (stayed)
all night with Dr. J. J. Culler (Culler, J.J. (Dr.)) a
practising (practicing) physician slipt (slept) on the
floor rested first rate. The Dr and
family are strong union people they
have a niece that reminded us very
much of Eliza (Cady, Eliza) she is about the same size
almost all the young ladies here are secesh
We We had a good many disputes
with them. Oh have had any hard
march. I have got along first rate
riding most of the time. I sometimes
feel ashamed to ride but again I think
I am entitled to it. Maj. Is well
also Lt Alexander (Alexander, George (Lieutenant)) .
I hope Mother is better.
I will write more as soon as I
get an opportunity.

Your Bro. G. M. Palmer (Palmer, Gustavus M. (Captain))