Letter, Granville W. Belcher to Mary Caroline Belcher; 9 September 1862

              Fredrick County, Meryland September the 9 1862 My Dear Mary,
I take opportunity of dropping you a few lines to let you know that our forces are in Meryland. I do not know what they intend to do but from what little I can find out, they are going on towards Baltimore. I expect we will have a hard time over here. Provisions are scarce. Beef is all the meat we get. I have waded rivers until it looks like it will kill me, marching in the dust. I think had rather do anything I ever done in my life than to march. I have not had a clear drink of water since I left home. The springs & wells allways crowded. I have seen you brother Joseph R. Dickerson. He was well & gaily. He was in the fight three days. He ses they got twenty men wounded, one killed. Joseph told me a greateal about the fight. He ses could have walked over a great portion of the battlefield on the dead Yankeys. I hope bury five in one grave. I saw sever hundred on the part of the field that I was on. William H. Dickerson here this morning. He is broken down like the rest of us. You all must not be uneasy about us. I feel as fine here as I do anywhere. If the Yankeys whips our forces here we had as well qit (quit) the fight because we have got force to take Washington City. I will write evry chance I get. I do not nowe where to tell to direct you letters.