Farefax County V^a

August 28^th 1861

 

Dear Mother and Sisters

it is with great pleasure that I seat myself to wright you a few lines to let you know that I am well and hope those fue lines may find you all enjoying the same blessing I have no news of importance to wrigt things has bein very quiet since Sunday and friday the 23^d we wer all orderd ougt to Falls Church it was reported that the enemy wer advancing on that place from Georgetownd but it proved to be a mistake and on Sunday the 25^th it was reported they wer advancing on Annanndale 6 miles east of our camp our regament was ordered ougt but it allso proved to be a fals alarm our infantry are a throwing up brest works at both the above named places they had a skirmish with the yankeys yesterday near Falls Church in whitch ther was 5 yankeys killed and some 15 taken prisoners we lost one man I believe the caverley was not in the engagement we dorove the yankeys from a hill that we have bein wanting to get posession of for some time We can now have a vew of pretty near all there opperations for too or three miles we can see Alixandra of a clear day our regament expects to move down to Annanndale in a few dayes We expect a movement of the whole armey in a week or too our armey extends from ten miles above Manassa to this place makeing in all a boug 25 miles the / tents are as thick as they can be for health and comfort it will not be long till the yankeys will be drove back across the Potomack whare they ougt to be made stay forever.

 

the health of the companey is generaley good Carles Morell has bein sick for a week but is better he had a ligt attact of the bilous feaver I have not bein able to ride for three or four dayes on the account of boiles they have got near a bougt well I never enjoued health better in my life with the exception of a few boiles I want you to get M^rs Hugg to make me enoug good blue jeanes for to pare of pants and a hunting shirt you had better speak in time before some one els get in before me ther will be a great demand for jeanes this fall those things I spoke of in my last I would like to have as soon as posable we have not bein paid off yet I do not know what the reason is I would not care how soon my self I have written to you every week since the battle and will continue to do so as long as I have time give my love to M^r Cassell tell him that Rufus is well he went ougt on picket this morning give my love to M^rs Cassell and M^rs Browning tell Jesse that I would like to hear from him give my love to M^r Hogue and all my old friends so nothing more at present I hope to be able to see you all soon tell Lura and sue howdy for me your afectionate son and brother    T W Collay

           

Wrigt soon

            Adres   Farefax C.H. farefax County V^a Care of Capt Wm E.

            Jones 1^st Regt V^a Caverley

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