Monocacy Junction, MD.
August 3^rd (1864?)

Dear Sister,

     I received your very welcome letter, day before yesterday, and will try to answer it, but it will be short, the mail leaves in one hour. You said, I had not answered your letter before. You must not be particular about that. I want you to write as often as you can and I will answer when I can. They have just kept us going in this department and have just about worn us out. I have rode in the ambulance two days. My general health is good, but I get melted down and tired out, marching so much and in the hot sun. I sent a letter to Rosa the day I received yours. Tell her I was disappointed in not getting one from her. On our first march, we crossed the Potomac at Whites Ford, passed through Leesburg and through the Blue Ridge Mountains at Sinker's Gap, crossed the Shenandoah and went four or five miles beyond, returned by the same route to Leesburg. From there we went to the right and crossed the Potomac at Chain Bridge. We went into camp for two days, then started for Harpers Ferry, by the way of Tenallytown, Rockville, Frederick City, then took the Gettysburg and went about five miles, went into camp, staid one day, then marched back to Frederick and about four miles beyond on the Washington Road, went into camp… It is called Monocacy Junction. Is on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, where a branch turns off to Frederick. We are about eight miles from Baltimore and about forty from Washington. They do the fighting there and we do the marching, and a good deal of it is useless. Shaw of Earlsville joined the regiment yesterday. Will probably get his discharge soon. You wrote that you thought that Grant, with one hundred thousand men, could end the war in twenty days - Don't You Believe It. I don't believe it will end in one, two or three years by fighting. We all laugh at such reports here. We know that Grant will do all that man can do, but he has a big job on hand. The report here this morning is that he has been driven back, and lost all he has gained. I suppose you get all the war news before we do, so I can't write anything new to you. Tell Rosa I will send her a letter by next mail. Tell her to keep up good spirits. Cheer her up all you can. I don't recollect who, of our folks, I wrote to last. I calculate to write to all in turn, when I can. I want you all to write, often as you can, for letters cheer a fellow up a good deal. Well we just had a roll call. I guess we are going to start out this afternoon. Remember me to all our folks, tell them I have not forgotten them and would write often to all if I could. I want they should write often as they can. I am afraid this war is going to ruin this whole country, North as well as South. I don't know, but I am looking on the dark side, but I don't mean to. I wish you would write real often. General Emory is here. They are calling for the letter.

Your appreciate brother,
S. S. Dunton