July 28, 1864 Cumberland, MD

Dear wife;

I thought I would write to once more before my time was out. Surely if you do not write oftener I will have to correspond with some other woman. Surely I cannot get along without a correspondence with some one of the fair sex. We are still at Cumberland, & I suppose we will stay here our time out, if we are not chased out by the Rebbels. The Rebels are coming in thick as pigeons. They have taken Martinsburg again, & are coming up this way. If the Rebels are not soon drove back, I fear we will be kept over our time. I cannot say with any assurance when we will be home. There are a great many different views as to the time. One thing certain if we are not at home again the (undecipherable) of August there will be some swearing among the boys. We may be home sooner, but don't look for us too soon least you should be disappointed, & feel worse than if had not looked for us at all. I am tending in the hospital now; on the sick. There are a great many sick. I think this is a very sickly place. I fear if we stay here long we will nearly all be sick. Boltin Ashley is very sick with the typhoid fever. Frank Brookwater died in the hospital, & was sent home yesterday. Brandon died yesterday, & will be started for home today. Brandon was a brother to Elia Brandon. Isaac, & Myself, & Isaac Miller are as well (undecipherable)al. Be of good heart in that we most our time in the service caring (undecipherable). I believe that I have nothing more to write than what have wrote before concerning farming (undecipherable). No more than to say take as good care of the things as you can. I know you have a heap to do. You have much more to do than if you lived in town or some place where you had no stock to take care of. I would like for the horses to be kept in as good a plight as possible so I can work them when I get home. If you have not allready written, I want you to write soon as you get this letter. Tell Dama and Lois it will not be long any more until their Pa will come home and bring them candy. I have nothing more to write at present, yours in love, truth & fraternity to Juliette Boltin.

Philip Boltin

Philip Boltin served with Company I of the 152nd Regiment of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

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