[blue pencil: Guerrilla Raid]

Yorktown Va Nov 22 /63

 

Dear Sister

                        I rec^d  your last a day or two ago. It rained a little last night it has been very dry here since we came. It seems that we have not changed camp yet although since I last wrote we have been on quite a tramp.

 

I wrote in my last that we were to have inspection at 10½ oclock. When time came around an order came for us to be ready in light marching order to go aboard a gunboat in half an hour. I had not mailed my letter then and I might have written / about the order but I was afraid Mother would worry about me all the time. I found out after we got aboard the boat that we were going to Mobjack Bay in search of Guerrillas, as there was a report of quite a band around there. Mobjack Bay is east of the mouth of York river between that and the Chesapeake Bay. a number of rivers empty in it among them East river at the mouth of which we landed. It is about 40 miles from Yorktown. We started from Yorktown a little after noon and landed a little after dark. We had to land in small boats / these could not get close to the shore so we had to wade from four to eight rods I pulled off my boots and came out all right. That night we marched about three miles to Mathews C. H. and stayed all night We heard here that a number of guerrillas took dinner here that noon. I did not sleep much that night but the boys made the chickens and pigs fly I tell you about three oclock in the morning we had a nice pot full boiled. Our three days rations were divided here. I only took some hard tack as I thought I could live off the enemy.

 

We took up our march at day break the weather / was beautiful and the roads first rate. The country is the best I have seen in Va. There have been no troops through here hardly. We were the first infantry. We marched ten miles and not finding any thing we turned around, marched back a mile or two and took dinner I had boiled turkey, pork & hard tack for dinner. That night we marched back to within three miles of the C.H. and camped in three corners. The next morning all the Cos but B & G were sent down this road to reconnoiter they were gone all day and came back with twelve new guerrillas who were all heavily armed. They were captured on an island at the mouth of the Piankatank river. One of them was a Capt. / and had his commission in his pocket from Jeff About dark we started back for the C. H. stayed here until a messenger from the gunboat came [?] us back to Yorktown We took back a fine mess of chickens and sweet potatoes Got back Thursday noon I stood the march first rate enjoyed my self fully. Only part of Va I have seen that I thought I should like to live in

 

We have had quite exciting times in the Company The Capt offered to leave it to the Company to choose their Orderly Sergt. I should have got it by a handsome maj / in fact the vote was taken and then the Capt refused to stand by his word and appointed another man I think he was bought He has not the least bit of honor. It grinds me to think I have got to stay under him two years longer. However it is enough for me to know that I got the vote of the Company and am much more respected by them than he is himself. He could not get two men to enlist again

 

We lost our jewel when Lieut Brown died.

 

I guess I shall have to have you send me the box for I need the shirts so much. If we get march / ing orders I will write I am sorry I did not write to have collars sewed on any shirts for winter. If we should happen to move after I get the box I think I can get the fruit carried I can sell the butter but perhaps we shall not move but we have rumors every day. I want Sam to send me a box of Millers Blacking If he sends two or three boxes I can sell them and it may serve mine considerable. Put in a little black thread. I had rather have a box than a barrel I have got all the papers you have sent me but one Post Got an Independent & Rural yesterday. I expect we shall get pay every day I am out of money but think we shall / get pay before I could get any from home. You may send me some more paper & envelopes. I want a pair of Suspenders & Hankerchief I dont know but I wrote for them before. I can think of nothing more I am much obliged to Willie for his letter Lt Col. Guion is our Col now He is a tip top man. there was about 500 on the raid Col Guion had command

           

Love to All

                       

Your Aff't Brother

Cha^s E Reed

 

If Sam sends the blacking send the a box

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