Near Brandy Station. Va.

Dec 4^th 1863

 

Dear Father

                        I have had a pretty rough and a busy life for the last week or two and this is the first chance I have had of writing. We got a mail last night, the first for eight days, and I got Mothers letter of the 23^d. All the back mail has not come yet.

 

            We marched from Culpeper to a place called Stevensburg the 23^d of last month and the next morning Reveille was at two oclock and we started about daylight expecting to bridge the Rapidan we went about six miles through the mud and rain and halted for the troops to come up we waited till two or three oclock in the afternoon and then marched back to Stevensburg

 

The next day Wednesday we laid still and brushed the mud off our cloths. We thought we were going to have a quiet Thanksgiving day, but Thursday morning we were woke up at 4 oclock and then we knew something was up. we marched at day light and took the same road as before this time the 3^d corps was on hand and we went to the river. There was a few rebs there but they left as soon as our batteries came into position. We had a double line of skirmishers close to the river besides four or five / batteries on the hills, but there was not a shot fired. we soon had the boats in the water and rowed troops over and then laid the bridge The 3^d and 6^th corps crossed this bridge. it was at Jacobs ford. Friday we took up the bridge and went to Germania ford, two miles down the river where Co's A and B had thrown a bridge the same time we threw ours. Saturday we marched to Richardsville and camped in a rain. Sunday we went to Elys ford and went into camp in the woods in a splendid place. Monday I was on guard the Battalion laid still Tuesday we started very sudden and went to Germania ford and laid two bridges I could not believe the army was coming back but I had to believe it finally. That night I slept in the open air. Wednesday we took up the bridges and left the river about ten oclock and marched to Brandy Station. Yesterday we came about two miles. Thanksgiving day I had fried pork and hard bread for supper. I don't remember eating any dinner. for breakfast hard bread and rice with three spoon fulls of molasses. Most of the troops have been hard up for rations. hard bread sold as high as a dollar a piece. we did not cross the river and had our train with us and got along very well though we had none to much. They are rushing the pork and hard bread in here now as fast as they can. You will know all about the move of the army before you get this. perhaps one object was accomplished, but Meade intended to attack Lee and had ordered a general assault at 8 oclock Monday /

 

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morning but Lee had a longer front showed more men than Meade could, had taken a strong position and was fortified. so Meade thought it best to back out.

It is hard telling how much more marching there is for us this fall, but I can get along very well with government shirts till we get into winter quarters

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