Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood
Undated
June 1863

MECHANICSBURG GAP

Hampshire Co., West Va, June 1, '63.

Editors Intelligencer:
I will write you a short letter before guard mounting, and send by this morning's mail. Upon our return from Greenland Gap we reoccupied our old camping ground, and under the able supervision of our field officers, have made a very neat camping ground of it. We left two of our companies at the Gap (Greenland), Companies D and K, who are resolved (to use an old saying) on holding the Gap at all hazards.

The general health of the regiment is better now than it has been for some time - probably because of the clime, which is the most healthy in the world. Mountain air is always healthy and beneficial. The duty is very hard on the boys, so much picket and fatigue, and when off that there is battalion drill, and dress parade in the evening, which the boys do not admire as much as the officers think they should.

There has been a very good fort erected on Battery hill, which commands the situation and enhances considerably the safety of the post. Scouting parties are sent out almost every day, who bring in more or less prisoners. Yesterday four were captured and brought into camp and are now in the Romney jail. One of them, Lieut. Blue, lives but a short distance from the town, and often viewed the house where he is now confined, never thinking that he would become one of its occupants, but such is the fortunes of war.

The Paymaster, it is reported, will visit us to-morrow, accompanied by Mr. Jacob Hornbrook, who is untiring in his devotions to the soldier.

The drums are beating for guard mounting, and I must quit to attend to other duties. More anon,

M.H.

Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood: Undated: June 1863