Franklin County: Josiah Bloss to His Sister, September 26, 1863
Summary:
Bloss writes his sister of his Brigade's success in defeating the rebels and capturing food
and goods.
His Sister
Sept 26th 1863
Stevensburg Va Camp of the 17th Pa Cavalry
Dear Sister,
I take the pleasure to address you
with a few lines hoping to find you all well. I am well and in good
health at the present. we had quite a jolly time with the rebels this
week. our Brigade captured a lot of rebels and two thousand Pounds of tobacco and 25 barrel of whiskey. the tobacco and whiskey was all given to us for our good fighting
and well behavior through our fighting since the
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invasion of Pennsylvania: our cavalry has whipped the rebel Cavalry in every engagement since the Battle of Chancellorsville and a good part of their infantry along with their cavalry.
our company was on picket at the mouth of the Rapidan and we captured 250 turkeys & geese I had 9 turkeys which gave me as much as me & my horse could carry. we also had plenty of cabbage & potatoes. we lived well during the last week with our turkeys potatoes cabbage and whiskey.
I dreamed last night that we was fighting the rebels in abington and in newton township and I
thought I seen mother as we was coming back. if I ever get home I can tell you many a tale of
our fighting in woods from
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hands and feet along the Rapidan river at racoon ford and we kept the rebels on the opposite side for four days until our
infantry came up to us and relieved us. we had our horses all tied up in the woods during the time of 4 days. we have just received two
months pay and here is ten dollars at the present & I will send some in my next.
So Good Bye
from your Brother
Josiah Bloss
