University of Virginia Library

You may think I have de
layed writing too long, but it has been
caused partly by my waiting to get a letter
from home, not having received one since
your brief note of 11th informing me of An
drew's return.[1] Our stay in camp after
the fight was but brief. Marched again
on 16th to a point five miles beyond
Orange C.H., and in sight of the Yankee Camp
and remained there four days drawing and
cooking rations almost every day so as to
keep three days provisions on hand.
Yesterday we again took up the line of
march and advanced towards the enemy,
our route being to the right of the railroad,
and encamped near a little town called
Stephensburg. This morning morning we took
an early start—crossed the Rail
Road at Brandy Station and are now within two
miles of the Rappihannock. The enemy are
on the further bank for the purpose of
preventing or retarding our advance, and
considerable cannonading has been going
on across the stream. The Yankees retrea
ted from Culpeper C.H. yesterday lea
ving twelve hundred wounded men.

A cavalry skirmish occurred yesterday, in
which sixty prisoners were taken and the
Yankees routed. Most of the dwelling hou
ses along the road have been deserted by
the whites and left to the fate of war.
The country down here is generally flat
and poor, but in the neighborhood of Or
ange C.H. are many splendid fields of
corn, which continually tempt
the soldier to trespass. Our cavalry and some artil
lery have succeeded in crossing the river.
Our cavalry have just captured twenty
five Yankees and two Ambulances. Gen
Lee is here in command. Gen Stuart and his Cavalry are here.[2]

I sent to Waynesboro last week by Mr Da
vidson $2006 $206.00; $94.00 for Andrew
and the remainder for myself. You take your
pay out of it, and as I am not getting
home very fast will have to make the
trade in pants we spoke of, which
will leave me in your debt—$21.00. I
would like to have the pants by the
first chance you have of sending them.
Mr. Hill declines going in as a substitute[3]
and I have heard nothing more of the
man of 2nd Regt.; dont think he has ever
returned. Saw James White [4] a few days
ago; said Andrew was looking quite thin

having been reduced by scanty fare. I sent
the little sword I spoke of to Waynesboro
by Harry Arnall, who is discharged. Please
say in your next letter whether you got the money;
disliking to carry it—I thought best to
send it even by indirect means. On Mon
day All our wagons were taken from us
except enough to have cooking utencils
and officers baggage and our mess box
es thrown out and bags substituted. So
we have to tote our little all on our
backs, which with gun cartridge box
and haversack containing three days
rations is quite burdensome.[5] Four or
five boys broke down yesterday. Tom
White Jno and Henry Myres are in a very
fair way of getting transfers of to Cav
alry.[6] I forgot to say that James White
told me that there were two men in his
company who would probably be discharged
who might be got as substitutes.
I will soon need a hat and would like
to have a pocket-ink stand and penn holder
if they this can be bought. Will also take one
of your homemade pocket books if you
can m have an extra one or can convenient
ly make one. Andrew had better have
his knapsack as small as possible, they can be drawn here. Suppose I may think of this as Aunt
Mary's[7] bridal day, if so, may it be an
era of happiness in her life.