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Jacob Miller, letter

August 20, 1861

"Sharpsburg, August 20th, 1861

Dear Christian & Amelia and Child
Your letters of the 16th July to Sevilla & Jacobs to me came duly to hand. I would have
wrote sooner but for this confused warfare which absorbs the minds of almost everybody and
mine with the rest. You are all dear to me in my old age some of which I have not yet seen but I
would be glad to see you all once more if it could so happen. I always calculated on getting out
to Iowa and Illenouse and I think I would have been out before this had I not got into those
difficulties in money matters, but now I have my doubts whether it will ever happen. Although
my helth and strength at this time would be good enough to make the journey. But this black
republican warefare has thrown everything into confusion but I cannot complain of being much
molested by the troops although they encamp in one of my fields twice but only for a night at a
time (these ware the northern troops) the Southern troops were encamped at Shepherdstown for
several months during which time our dis union party ware verry uneasy they feared them berry
much I did not fear either party but I dreded some of our rowdies in town the[y] called us
ceefsionists and so reported us to the norheren troops and expected to see us all arrested when
the northeren troops came on
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But they were disappointed the officers said they did not intend to molest any one on account of
theer political opinion. After they ware hear a while they ware better pleased with the democrats
than with the Union or dis Union party as we call them and prove them to be such by being in
favour of the war which is disunion it Self there can be no union between two parties when war
exists between them. – There was rather a novelty occured hear sometime since when the first
Regiment came into are neighborhood. They had thought of incamping In my field but the first
days march from Hagerstown brought them to Snivleys three miles from hear where they struck
their tents a fiew days after the General & his aides five of six in number came on to town rode
down [the] street to the square and inquired for me and where I lived my house was pointed out
to them when they all started off in a gallup back to my house. this was late on Friday evening
when the square of the town was full of these disunion boys with their ears cocked up expecting
to see me arrested when about twenty or thirty came runing up but to their sad disappointment

the General handed me a letter of introduction and then said he would be glad to see me up at his
camp tomorrow when I thanked him and said I would try and get up when they roda off but stil
left these disunionists in the dark not knowing what the letter contained. – the next morning I
went up to the Camp Hellen went with me she took a large bocade of flours along for the
General we staid in his Markee about an hour talking with the General and Mager when we
took leave of them took a view of the encampment then came off home – there has been a
Masichusets Regiment encamp on Captn D Smith’s farm in the woods above Grove’s Spring for
the last two weaks a part of which ware encamped oposit the big Mill on Billy Blackford’s land.
but Sunday night the big Mill was burned down it is generally thought the northeren troops fierd
it, but the[y] deny it. The Southern troops burned the Harpersferry & Shepherdstown bridges
before they left for Martinsburg & Winchester – we had a desperat set of rowdies in our place all
belonged to the disunion party they stoped at nothing and they were supported by some of the
leading men of their party such as Dr. Biggs, Isiah Huet, Bill & Frank Cronise Judge Smith or
Shoemaker Sometime sence about 14 or 15 of those Rowdies went down below the Iron works
^to the farm (where Saml. Mitchel used to own then Abraham Smith now it belongs to Olover
Showman of Virginia who brought over his stock last Spring to pasture) and drove to town some
75 or 80 head of Showmans Sheepe, and killed ten of them that evening and divided the meat
amongst the party the[y] got the rest of them in pasture and killed the balance as they needed
mutton. then Several of them went to Virginia and stole some 5 or 6 horses brought them over
and sold them to some agents who ware buying horses for the government
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at Williamsport they had just another such band the[y] stole horses also and sold them
perhaps you have heard of your unkle Andrew Rentch sending his son Klint to Williamsport on
business while there he was assailed by those Rowdies and ordered out of town he told them he
would leave when it suited him but the[y] insisted on his going right off then began to pelt him
with stones one feller took hold of his Brid[l]e reins when Klint drew his revolver and fired one
or two shots without affect the rowdies then fired upon him ^with rifels^ one shot him through
near the hart which caused his death in a short time a bullet hole was found through the top of
his hat. – Then [?] sent word to his father that he might take him away provided he would say
nothing about it. -- Klint was a noble daring fellow he feared nothing was about 22 years of age
had studied law in Va but was practising in Baltimore with his unkle William Price, and had just
got home a short time before this occured , - now I have wrote all this in relation to this nasty
warfare and I suppose you have a plenty of it at home.
- Now I will say somthing about our domestic affairs our wheat crop I think was a ful average
up except where the hail hit us it did not extend wide, my wheat at home Pipers – Newcomers
^Jacob & Jerry^ Groves and two or three farms over the Creak suffered moste. Frances had an
excelent crop by far the best he has made yet. Morgan &Rench had good crops the Corn
Crops ware kept back with droth tel within eight or ten days back we have had some
seasonable weather last night we had a fine shower which I think will nearly make the early
planting (our love to you all) God bless you affectionatly yours Jacob Miller"