"We left Hancock on March 1st and marched to Williamsport the same day, twenty-three miles. At this point I commenced crossing the river on a single scow ferry-boat. It took me twenty-four hours to get across two regiments and their trains."

      As winter ended, General Williams was ordered to invade the Shenandoah Valley. Marching his division of 5000 in two brigades men down the Potomac to Williamsburg, he joined a large invasion force under the command of Major General Nathaniel Banks. Their first objective was key rail and road center at Winchester. In a series of skirmishes the rebels gave way to this overwhelmning force, drawing the invasion force deep into the Shenandoah Valley.

      I took a different route to Winchester, choosing to cross the Potomac at Hancock and travel the long narrow valleys of the Alleganies through Berkely Springs and enter Winchester from the northwest. There we turned south onto the fabled valley pike (now US 11).

Bunker Hill, Va., Mar. 8, 1862.

"My DearDaughter:

      This is a little hamlet twelve miles north of Winchester on the pike from Williamsport. My headquarters are in a small room of a small house. I have a bedroom adjoining, which just holds my bed. The others, servants and all, occupy our office-room rolled in blankets at night. We are glad of any shelter, for the weather has been very rough, worse than our Detroit March. Indeed, I don't know when I have [not] been exposed to bad weather, but my health is good and my spirits never better.

      We left Hancock on March 1st and marched to Williamsport the same day, twenty-three miles. At this point I commenced crossing the river on a single scow ferry-boat. It took me twenty-four hours to get across two regiments and their trains. Consequently, I was nearly three days in passing over my six regiments of infantry, a company of artillery and two companies of cavalry. My advance regiments took possession of Martinsburg without opposition, the Union people welcoming us and the non-Union, for the most part, running away. It was at this point that the Rebels last summer destroyed over fifty locomotives of the Ohio & Baltimore Railroad, the melancholy ruins of which still stand on the track. On Wednesday last I left Martinsburg with my brigade expecting to meet the enemy in force at this place, but he had evacuated and we found nothing but a small picket of cavalry and a few infantry. My cavalry advance dashed into the town, a few rounds of musketry were fired from the houses, we captured five or six of them, and then our anticipated battle was all over without loss to us. I happened to be in advance with some officers and got considerable of the fever of the rush and thus was one of the early ones in.

      Yesterday I sent out a reconnoitering party towards Winchester which was attacked by a considerable force in the woods. My troops drove them easily but we had three men wounded and Capt. Wilkins' fine horse (Prince), which you will recollect, was struck in the shoulder and badly hurt. We killed six of the enemy and wounded seven. They were all cavalry. These fellows are very daring. After we drove them off yesterday they came back at night and fired on my pickets. They are driving all round outside of my lines picking up soldiers on furlough and stealing horses and other property of Union men. I hope to trap some of them soon.

      I have the advanced position now and on the extreme right of the Army of the Potomac. My brigade has now six regiments of infantry, six pieces of rifled cannon and two companies of cavalry, the largest command I have had, at least 5,000 men. On my left is Gen. Hamilton and beyond him toward the Shenandoah the other brigades of Gen. Banks' division. Behind late Gen. Lander's, now Gen. Shields' division is coming up, a part having arrived at Martinsburg. I don't know what is ahead, but I think we shall drive them forward without much trouble.

      I write you hurriedly. My little office is crowded with all sorts of men for all sorts of business. I am now really "monarch of all I survey," and all the people about, as well as my own troops, think I should supply everything and do everything.

Love to all.... Ever Your Affectionate Father"

Winchester soon fell into Union hands. The town would change hands 54 times during the war.

"Oh, What a Lovely War" -- Willliamsport Ferry by Lowell Boileau based on image by unknown artist.

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