Middletown Va Oct 26

 

Dear Sister & Brother

                   Yours of Sept 16^th reached me after some time but I have not had a chance to answer before this

                       

But I am very glad your memory did not quite desert you for if it had I never should have got an answer to my letter, but it is all right yours found me in good health as I hope these few lines will find you we have had some right smart fighting here in the Valley lately & on the morning of the 19 the first thing I heard was musket balls, the jonnies had gobbled our pickets flanked us and got in our rear before we knew there was one within 10 miles of us they first pitched into the 8 corps and drove them and the 19 corps capturing from the 8 corps 10 pieces artillery from the 19 corps / 7 pieces from the 6^th corps 6 pieces making 24 pieces and some 9 hundred prisoners such another skedadle you never saw Bull Run was nothing to it we retreated about 4 miles when the 6^th corps rallied and with the cavalry checked the enemy untill the 8 & 19 corps could be rallied when our commander reached the front he had been to washington such cheering you never heard. the tide of battle was turned, the rebs were drove back we captured all our artillery back and 43 pieces with all their trains and about 8 thousand prisoners recaptured a part of ours back we drove the rebs back to fishers hill the same night but I suppose you have seen the account before this in the papers the guerillas is very troublesome they captured Gen^l Duffie and his a'dg^t gen^l yesterday between our front and base of supplies but such is war and / I dont see as it is likely to wind up soon there is no doubt of old Abes relection for president M^cClellan is nowhere among the soldiers

 

                        I am very glad you enjoyed yourself while at Greenwich you must make Lizzie another visit as soon as convenient give my kindest regards to Asa Adams and all enquiring friends give my love to Lucretia and John accept a share yourselves write soon

                                                                                   

From your Affectionate Brother

W. H. Durfee

 

P.S. this is all the kind of paper I have you will have to excuse the quality it is secesh captured at Stanton

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