Cumberland, Md.
My dear Sister:
We recd. on Sunday evening at our last camp orders to march in 30 minutes to this place. Col. [Lew] Wallace with his Indiana Zouaves having left here at 4 o'clock for Martinsburg, Va. Col. Biddle had left the day before to take his seat in Congress. Col. Kane came in command of the Regt. therefore and appointed me acting Lieut. Col. We left two companies in command of the baggage-train which should come on the next day and set out about ten o'clock with the remaining eight. Col. Kane pushed on in advance leaving me in command. The distance is only seven miles which we made in two hours without halting[,] the men carrying their knapsacks, haversacks, canteens, guns and 40 rounds of cartridges each. This is a small town of 7 or 8000 [sic, 800 intended] inhabitants on the Potomac on the other side of which is Virginia. The people were all abed[,] having no idea of our coming, but the measured tramp of the men and the horses hoofs soon aroused them. In many houses we could hear the women run shrieking about[,] crying that the secessionists had come to murder them all. We had recd, from apparently reliable sources, news that the enemy were coming down upon the town in force in view of the fact that the Zouaves had left-hence our hurried night-march. We marched on through the town with as little noise as possible when the column was divided into two detachments. Col. Kane taking three companies up the canal beyond the road upon which we learned the enemy were approaching and sending me with the remaining five companies to post them on some wooded heights to the left. We had everything slyly arranged so as to close in behind them had they advanced and cut off their retreat. I sent out picket-guards a mile in every approachable direction when the men were allowed to find shelter under the pines and sleep on their arms. The night., passed however without alarm and yesterday morning we returned from the hills and took up our quarters on the opposite side of the town where Col. Wallace's command had been encamped. As we were forming yesterday who should ride up before the line but Col. Biddle[,] having heard of our orders to march he preferred giving' up his seat in Congress to the command of the Regt. when his services might seem to be needed. He was hailed with a perfect outburst of cheers and is now with us. I am at present acting Major in place of Major (Charles] Stone who is off recruiting men and will not probably be back within ten days. The prospect now is that Biddle will be made a Brigadier General-in that case I will have the Major's place. This you need not mention outside. You can send this letter if you see fit to Germany. Tell Mother however that I have a long letter on hand to her but have not yet finished it owing to our precipitate movements. This is simply a hurried sketch of our doings but you will all probably be interested to have it as early as possible. Passing through town yesterday I heard an old grey-headed nigger say "Bress de Lord we've got 'em on our side again." Send me two or three towels by Roney. Write me soon to Cumberland, Md.
Affectionately
C. F. Taylor