July 15, 1861 – Monday.

James H. Masten,

Raftsmen’s Guard, Co. D, 13^th Pa. Res.,

in: Warren Mail.

New Creek Bridge, Maryland –

“Dear Father:- I wrote you a few days ago from Camp McGinnis. We have moved up the Potomac about 3o miles to New Creek Bridge, or where the Bridge was, it having been burnt by the rebels. It looks hard. We came on the cars to the burnt bridge. We are nine miles from Piedmont and 3o from Romany where the enemy are about 5ooo strong.

“Our boys had a gay time yesterday; 100 of them were out scouting under Col. Kane. They were attacked by 3oo of the Virginians and 150 Tennessee horsemen under Lieut. Barden, they having just murdered a home guard from Cumberland in cold blood. The Lieutenant cut his head open with a sword. Two of our boys before the attack heard them say they were going to have wild-cat soup for dinner? Our boys killed 6 of them, among others was the Lieutenant. I just saw his sword and pistol that were taken from him. None of the wild-cats received a scratch.

“I tell you it is war all over here now. The people leave their houses nights and stay in the woods or come into our camp. I was Sergeant of the Picket Guard last night and I tell you it is pretty ticklish work posting and relieving Pickets at night in a strange country when a man is expecting to get a rebel bullet through his pate every minute. We have to keep our weather eye open.

“We were all under arms to-day expecting to be attacked by the enemy but they left the wild-cats alone. I am going on a scouting party to-morrow and may be they will catch me and may be they wont. We are all well but a few who are scared. They are in the Doctor’s tent. I am writing this letter on a tin plate in my tent. I may never write another, but if I don’t, hurrah for the wild-cats!

“From your son,

J.H. Masten.”

“P.S. The killed Lieutenant was bragging how he found his man asleep and did not give time to put his hat on; he was unarmed, having burst his gun.” [WM: 8-3-1861].