Camp Chase August, 1862

I take my pen to let you know where I am we are in old virginia. We left Harrisburg on Wednesday morning and arrived in Baltimore at five oclock and took supper in baltimore. I seen Colonel Cochran he made a short speech to us. He is a brave looking man. He is the man that was taking prisoner at bullrun. We left baltimore about dark and got to Washington City about 11 oclock that night and staid all night and left the next morning for camp. We are about seven miles from the City. It was a long march. Some of the boys give out it was so dusty and warm. We are camped on General Lees farm. It's across the potomac where you have read so much about. We are about sixteen miles from Alexandria. This is a hard looking country the land is very poor and broken. I was in the Capital of the United States. It is a splended place but I dident see the president. We hadent time to stay long in the City. It was worth a good deal to see the Capital. There is a great deal of talk about the rebels coming on here. Some are a good [?] excited. They say Mclellan and his army is coming to Alexandria but we hear so much we dont know what to believe but I think there is nothing ove it. We can here canonading but I dont whether it is fighting or just trying there guns at the forts. We are in sight of too forts. We are formed in a regiment. There is a great deal of talk who will be our Col. There is some talk of Meune but I guess it will be 0 Bryan. He will make a good one. He is a good captain. There is some of the boys a little sick with the dysentery. I have it myself. The change of water is what does it. The rashions is mighty hard here. The coffee is no better than dish water and the meat is no better. We have to drill 4 ours in the day. There was some of our company on guard last night. They are on too hours and of four for 24 hours. I recived Marthas letter the evening before we left Camp Courtin [?] and was glad to here from you. I wish you would send me some postage stamps. They are hard to get. We cant get no change here. Write as soon as you get this letter and direct to Washington City 134 Pennsylvania vol in care of Cap Meune.

JOSEPH STONER was in Co. B, 134th, Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, Infantry His regiment was organized at Harrisburg, PA, August 1862. It moved to Washington DC August 20th. It was attached to the lst Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac. It marched into Maryland September 1 - 18. Duty at Sharpsburg, MD (Battle of Antietam) until October 30. Reconnaissance to Smithfield, W. VA October 16-17. Moved to Falmouth, VA October 30 - November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg, VA, December 12-15. Burnside's 2nd Campaign January 20-24, 1863. Duty at Falmouth, VA until April 27th. Chancellorsvillc campaign April 27 to May 6. Battle of Chancellorsville May 1-5. Mustered out May 26, 1863.

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