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Letter from William Henry Thomas to his brother.

Camp Casey, Dec. 13, 1862
Dear Brother,
I this afternoon seat myself to write you a few lines to let you know that I am still in the land of the living right side up. With care we are camped five miles from Washington in Maryland half a mile from the line between the District Columbia and Maryland. We left Harrisburgh [Harrisburg] on the first day December. We put our horses in the cars and run them to Baltimore. We took them out there and fed them. Rode through the City bare backed and with our rope halters to the next station. We have got no saddles or bridles yet and there is not much sign of us getting them. Soon there was thirty of our men detailed to go to the City for provost guards but we could not go without saddles. We will be kept here all winter for that kind of duty. One company goes down one day and the next day another goes down and relieves them. It will be a nice job for this winter to ride around through the streets and take up the stragglers that is running around without passes. We can hear the cannons boom here everyday from the forts around Washington. I will close now by sending my love to all the family.

Your brother
W. H. Thomas
Address
Company M, 16th Pa cavalry
Washington D.C.