Clapp, George (fl. 1839-1892) to parents
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09355.012 Author/Creator: Clapp, George (fl. 1839-1892) Place Written: Warrenton, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 26 July 1863 Pagination: 4 p. : envelope ; 24.6 x 19.5 cm. Order a Copy
Resting at camp. It is the first day in a week that they have not been marching or fighting, which is "quite a relief." Now knows how his mother felt when she worked so hard around the house. Has marched almost non-stop since June 5th, covering "400 miles in that time" with stretches of "60 or 70 hours at a time without sleep." Marches often start at 4:00 AM without any warning or breakfast. Sometimes managed to buy food along the road. Often did not get to sleep until 2:00 AM. Eustis, his brigade's commander, said "if his brigade were sent in front and were brought into action [at Gettysburg] that 10 times their number could not whip them." Will put a map showing the route of his march either in this letter or the next one. Tells the story of a farmer he met on the road. He had many chickens, and offered them to the soldiers to eat on his front yard. Milked his cows for him in return. Ate some bad vegetables out of someone's garden and contracted diarrhea; became "very weak" from it. Usually is very afraid of eating fruit "of any kind," but ate some a few days ago. Has passed through massive patches of blackberries throughout his march, but they "are not quite ripe."
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