This letter was written by Lee O’Donaghey who, at age 25, enlisted at Dunkirk to serve three years as a private in Co. D, 72nd New York Infantry. He was promoted to corporal in early May 1862 and wounded in action during the fighting at Malvern Hill on 1 July 1862. He was discharged for his wounds at Carver Hospital in Washington D. C. on 13 December 1862 and received compensation as an invalid in December 1863.

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Camp Caldwell
September 14, 1861

Dear Parents,

I received your letter in due time & should have answered before but had to start out on a scouting expedition the same day & have but just returned. We went about a hundred miles Southern & Eastern Maryland. We were within 8 miles of Annapolis, the Capitol of the State. There was only three companies of us and we took about twenty prisoners and a number of swords, guns, and pistols &c. so you see we did not go for nothing and we are the first company in the regiment that have done anything as yet & the Colonel thinks we can stand more than any company he has got but I tell you, we had a hard trip of it. Only started with one day’s rations & were out five so we had to do the best we could & I assure you the chickens and sheep had to suffer for when we came across any, we shot them for we were bound to have something to eat anyway.

We averaged about 25 miles a day through one of the worst countries I think I ever saw. We had to ford creeks up to our waists & many of them too so you see it was not very pleasant but I stood it first [rate] & never felt better than I do now, &c. It is very healthy in camp. Our boys are all in good health. We expect to get paid off today when I shall try and send home $20 and you can do as you think best about letting Kirg have it to pay towards his place. But if he does use it, I want it fixed so if I ever come back, I shall have some benefit of it for I don’t want to lose it all. I shall send by Express & will write you again when I send so you can look out for it.

I don’t think of anymore this time as I shall probably write again tomorrow. Respects to all. Write soon. From your son, — Lee O’ Donaghey