Part B
This letter was written from Alexander Hunter of Virginia to his parents on September 21, 1862.
Passage
On the 8th we struck up the refrain of "Maryland, My Maryland!" and camped in an apple orchard. We went hungry, for six days not a morsel of bread
or meat had gone in our stomachs- and our menu consisted of apple; and corn. We toasted, we burned, we stewed, we boiled, we roasted these two
together, and singly, until there was not a man whose form had not caved in, and who had not a bad attack of diarrhea. Our under-clothes were foul
and hanging in strips, our socks worn out, and half of the men were bare-footed, many were lame and were sent to the rear; others, of sterner stuff,
hobbled along and managed to keep up, while gangs from every company went off in the surrounding country looking for food... Many became ill
from exposure and starvation, and were left on the road. The ambulances were full, and the whole route was marked with a sick, lame, limping lot, that
straggled to the farm-houses that lined the way, and who, in all cases, succored and cared for them...
In an hour after the passage of the Potomac the command continued the march through the rich fields of Maryland. The country people lined the
roads, gazing in open-eyed wonder upon the long lines of infantry...and as far as the eye could reach, was the glitter of the swaying points of the
bayonets. It was the first ragged Rebels they had ever seen, and though they did not act either as friends or foes, still they gave liberally, and every
haversack was full that day at least. No houses were entered - no damage was done, and the farmers in the vicinity must have drawn a long breath as
they saw how safe their property was in the very midst of the army.
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