All hands at home, well here we are right in the face of the enemy

South Mountain Pass M.D.
July 9th / 63
All hands at home,
well here we are right in the face of the enemy.   They were fighting yesterday on our right but we have not been in action yet.   We are alone by Gettesburg [Gettysburg] now.   Lee is trying to cross the Potomac.   I saw general Mead yesterday at Fredericks city[.] I saw a good many of our wounded men and some of our men saw the Surgeons taking off lims [limbs], I left Washington Tuesday and have just got to the regiment.  I saw some of my old acquaintances from the 93 Regt.  I did not see Frank Jerome but probably shold [should] tomorrow[.] Lee is very closely watched now.  He is trying to get back to Virginia but the Potomac is very high[.] it beats all what rains we have had for the last two weeks[.]  It has rained most all the time.   My clothes have not been dry for that length of time.  I have not had a shirt on my back for one week[.] I have two in my knapsack but they are both dirty and I have no time to wash them[.] we are trying to catch Lee now.   There is no time for washing.
Troops passed by us yesterday barefoot and the blood running out of them at that[.]  There is plenty of shoes for them but they cannot be carried into the field of battle for a man to get a pair just when he wants.   You see this raid is what I think with a good many there is a going to deside [decide] the present rebellion[.]   If one can succeed in catching Lee this time or of cutting his troops to pieces, I think the rebs cannot make another start.   You see that the whole army is on the move.  I wish you could have seen the troops pass through and near Fredericksburg  for the last 48 hours.  I saw Gen. Pleasonton’s  cavalry pass to day[.]   It was a sight of its self.  We are close where the Antietam battle was fought[.]   We are now on the ground that the sixteenth made a bayonet charge.
July 11.  Well here we are near the old Antietam battle field and it is expected here that we shall have a hard fought battle about Sunday and we soon expect to try our hands with the rebs, and you may never hear from me again but I hope I may be spared to return home once more.   But there is no discount on some hard fighting to be done soon[.]   This is from near Hagerstown[.]                D.W. Sunderland