The following letter was written by Samuel B. Salsburg (b. 1842), the son of John Salsburg and Anna M. Hooven of Norristown, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. Samuel was working as a cigar maker when he enlisted on 20 August 1862 as a corporal in Co. C, 138th Pennsylvania Infantry. He was wounded on 9 July 1864 at Monacacy, Maryland, but recovered and was promoted to sergeant in March 1865. He mustered out in June 1865 at Washington D. C.

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Camp 5 miles below Relay House, Maryland
September 7th 1862

Dear sister,

I thought as I had wrote two letters home before this one and have had no answer, that I would write the third one thinking that perhaps you did not get the ones that I wrote, or that you answered them and I did not get them, I wrote one to Mother the day we left Harrisburg and I wrote one to you on the 1st of September from camp near the Relay House. We got orders last Thursday afternoon to pack our knapsacks and get ready to leave. That was when we were at Camp Relay. Well companies A, B, and C, and I forgot the other company started down to the railroad and got in the cars and rode to where we are now stationed which is 5 miles below Relay House. We are here to guard the railroad that runs to Washington. Company A is about two miles below us and Company B about 2 miles above us. We are quartered in the barracks along the railroad.

There is plenty secesh about this part but they have got keep down, It is a pretty nice part of the country where we are now encamped. This morning a crowd of us started to go to church, Well, it was the biggest tramp I ever had to go to church. We was at a Methodist Church. It is about three miles from here and such a crooked old road through the woods. Well after I come back, I thought I would write this letter to you so I got my pen and paper and an now laying under an apple tree here in the orchard which is right back of us and am writing this to you. When you answer this, tell me when you got the last letter from me or whether you got one since we left Camp Curtin.

I don’t know how long we will stay here for we never know until we get orders to leave. We have got a good regiment and a good Colonel, I guess, as far as I know, and bully oficers in our company and a first rate set of fellows. And I like soldiering first rate so far. I am well and hope to remain so far. I want to see every rebel in the South put down and this rebellion crushed which I hope will be before long.

It is now getting late in the afternoon. I guess I will close for the present. Give my love to Mother and Pop and all the rest of the family, not forgetting Ben and Kate. Please answer this soon and tell me whether you got the other one. We have not got our bounty yet but that is good enough and when I get it, I will send it home. Hoping to hear from you soon, I will now close. So goodbye, Mary Ann, for the present.

Direct your letters to Samuel B. Salsburg, In care of Captain G[eorge] W[ashington] Guss, Company C, 138th Regiment P. V., Relay Post Office, Maryland

From your affectionate brother, — Samuel B. Salsburg

Camp 5 miles below Relay House, Maryland