Camp near Warrenton Va

Sunday Aug 2^nd

           

Dear Father

                                    I received two letters from you day before yesterday. I would have written sooner but I had some writing to do that could not be put off, and it took all my time. I received the stamps all right

 

Since I wrote you last we have moved twice. The first time we moved about [faded] miles nearer the river on account of the scarcity of water at Fayetteville. Last evening we moved from our last camp to this place we are now about 2½ miles from Warrenton. The army is camped about W—. There is no indications of a move soon on the contrary everything looks as if we were to remain here for some time. We are camped in regular order. The men are required to fix up bowers to shelter them from the sun. It is very warm we could not march far in a day now would have to move at night or the men would not be able to stand it. Our men have got so much / accustomed to marching that they can go 15 or 20 miles a day with ease if it is not too warm.

 

            I just received your letter of the 29^th it has come through in quick time. I think we will have mail more regular hereafter. I hope so at least. There has been a number of my letters lost. I have written many more letters than have been received. My correspondents complain that I do not write but I have written as many letters as I could possibly write. While we were moving every day (and we did move every day for 32 days) it was not possible to write many letters. We usually started at 4 or 5 oclock A.M. would be upon the road until 6 or 8 P.M. When we came into camp we had to get up tents, get supper &c, by the time that was over it was dark and I was tierd enough to go to bed. I wrote several letters while upon the road, would write a little every time we rested.

 

            It was reported that we would be returned to the defences of Washington as soon as the Rebels were driven out of Pa. & Maryland / but as yet there is no prospect of us leaving the Army of the Potomac. I do not think it at all likely that we will go to W— until our term of service expires. Gen'l Crawford is an ambitious man. I think that he wants the Reserve Corps to win a name for him as it has done for others.

 

We had a very hard time after we left Manassas Gap. We had only about half a days ration when we moved back. We went about two miles stoped for the night expecting to get rations next morning. I was entirely out, had only had a cup of coffee & two crackers for breakfast, no dinner, a small piece of beef for supper. I was very hungry, most of the other officers were in the same condition, so we concluded to go to the Shenandoah Valley and get something to eat. It was a dangerous trip. There were six officers and three men from my Company we were armed with revolvers and one sharpes Rifle. We went about six miles beyond our lines. At it was 7½ P.M. when / we started, we followed the Rail Road until we got through the M'ts. then struck out into the country. At every house we waked them up, told them to bring out something to eat. At the first house we made a splendid supper of bread & milk after we were through we thanked them and bid them good night. We did not take much from any one house but we went to several, and we managed to go back to camp pretty well loaded with rations. At one house we found four Rebels belonging to Stewarts Cavalry and a straggler from our Army. We took them prisoners and brought them in. We got to camp at 3 A.M. We marched at 5. There was not a cracker in my company. We went 12 miles. that evening one days ration of crackers & fresh beef (no salt) were issued to the men, but they were so hungry that they eat all for supper and breakfast. They had to march 15 miles next day before they got any thing to eat. I never was so hungry in my life as I was when we came to Fayetteville. My supplies had run out Depend on it, I eat hard tack with a relish

 

I must close my candle is just out

 

My love to all—

Your Son         JSWinans

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