Interesting letter from future Colonel Clark Edwards 5th Maine on his experiences on the Penninsula and what the Regiment went through.    Head Quarters 5th MaineNear Harrison LandingJuly 19th, 1862My Dear Wife,Yours of July 10th is received as I hasten to answer it. You speak of Lieut. Walker as giving you a description of our hardship. He knows but little about it as he was not with us but little or finally none in our hardest marches. I hardly know what the Bethel folks will have to say in regard to me. I have seen a good deal of fighting, more than anyone from Bethel. I was in the Battle of Bull Run, W. Point, Gain’s Mill also Charles’s City Crossroads & finally it could not be called much short of fighting. I feel that I done my duty through the whole of that awful time. You say you have been a little disappointed in not receiving my letters of late. I think my letters must be stopped on the route somewhere as I have written I think at least 8 since the fight. You say you suppose I have no time. You are mistaken. I have plenty of time to write as I will not do much only look after the camp and hospital. I have a beautiful tent. It is carpeted with cedar twigs which make it very clean. We also have one of the flies put up in front for an awning and cedar trees set around our camp to break off the hot sun, but for the last two days or since we moved here we have not suffered much as it has been quite cool. You speak of the draft as feared, but I wrote to you what I thought of it in my last and if is rite anymore now on it I shall get mad and write you perhaps that which I ought not to. So I will let it go this time. I am glad to hear the little ones are going to school again as now is the time for them to learn. You speak of Kate as coming home soon. I am glad to hear it. I hope she will stay at home though the hot weather, as it will be earlier for your health. You say you hope I may get a chance in one of the new Regts. I hope I may but I do want a place in this under Jackson now & I would take one either. I wrote the Gov. that I did ask for a place under Jackson neither would I take one but would take a place one of the new or any of the Old ones but the 5th but would not under Jackson. I have not yet heard form the Gov. but as my letter was a little on the bare down principle, I presume he will not give me a place anywhere. But if he does not, I shall resign as I shall get out if it with honor as I have led the Regt through more fights than any one else and brought it out safe. And I know no one can say but I should myself a man in all of the fight. You need not be ashamed of your hubby and I hope if I stay in the army I will never cause a blush or shame to mantle you noble face but enough. You speak of John coming to see you but if he is not better then when he left he will not do any harm. You ask me what John Bent does with his money. I do not know but presume he gambles it away & spend it for sutlers. The most of the boys do but you need not ____ here so as I do not want to write against the boys. I do not think much of this ____ _____ but if you let “a go to the Devil with the rest”. You say that Mrs. Sawyer is at Portland. I hope she will have a good time. Lue is steady as a clock and ____ he cannot be otherwise as there is no woman here. Why I would give five dollars to see a hoop skirt. It is going on four moths since I saw a white woman. I wrote you in regard to Old Wermell Bill. I think he is owing me at the present time and thing is the pay he has had of me has been the same as money to him but if he has not paid it, send it back to me and I will take it from John pay on this pay day. I received the letter that had in a bill off about twenty dollars so I think I have get all of your letters. I always write you so you would know if you kept the date of yours that you write. Also I always answer all of your questions so you could tell. You say Old Weetham will not take the one hundred dollars. Let him go to the Devil. The clever fellow tells Kate is quite _____ but I ho9pe will soon be better. I am quite as well as ever. You need not be surprised if I go home within the next three weeks. I shall take MCC home with me if I go . He is a beautiful colt. Tell _____ to put some English hay in the barn. I think then must be some ____ back the little barn, the little house as I believe that is sundown. Your,CEI will write you again soon. Mac is doing well, is a beautiful _____ colt as he is not more than five years old.,Love to all the Patriots of Bethel.