Friday, June 8 (from the memoirs of Pvt. James Marshall)

My Dearest Elizabeth,

This evening finds us safely encamped along the D & R canal within a few hundred yards of the Holcombe-Jamison farmstead near the hamlet of Lambertsville. Private Kurt Haywood and I arrived in camp this afternoon and we found that Captain Clark Van Buskirk had already posted his tent. He directed us where to pitch our accommodations for the weekend, after which Pvt. Haywood and I went on a short forage excursion to nearby New Hope, across the river. Upon our return we met 2^nd Corporal Ken Doran and together hoisted the Company fly and started a fire.

As evening approached Pvt Haywood and I visited the nearby farmstead and spotted Union soldiers including a gaggle of officers on the porch of the farmhouse. As we were in civilian dress we passed unquestioned and reported their numbers to the good Captain. Shortly afterwards we were witness to an aerial display of pyrotechnichs, followed by ground level illuminations from friendly fireflies.

In the morrow we expect the camp to expand considerably with a great possibility of action being as the Yankees are in such proximity and abundance compared to our numbers. None the less, the boys in blue could outnumber us four to one and yet we would have the military advantage on the field !

Wishing you and the children well, until we meet again,

Yours truly, James