Camp near Rappahannock Station

Saturday Aug 8^th/63

 

Dear Father

                        I have a little time to write before bed time and I will embrace it to write you. I received your letter several days ago, also Virginia's last evening. I would have written before this but I was engaged in company business, and in trying to get mustered and had not time.

 

I finally succeeded in getting mustered Thursday Aug 6^th. I had a great deal of [?]ing about before I could get the opperation performed. I was mustered to date back to Feb 28^th and will therefore be paid as Captain from that time.

 

The Pay master has been paying the different Regts during the last two days notwithstanding we are moving about. We would have been paid to day if it had / not been for our moving. We left camp this morning at six oclock and came here about 4 or 5 miles. I felt the heat more today than I ever did before. It was very warm there was several cases of sun stroke on the way. I thought I would faint several times but I stuck it out until we got to camp. I cannot understand the movements of the army. I do not think that there is very much of it in this part of the country, I only know of three Corps, the 1^st, 3^rd & 5^th. A part of the 6^th is on the south side of the river and has been there for several days. it is likely that we will cross also in a few days. The 3^rd Corps is camped along the river a part as far out as Sulphur Springs. I think we are only guarding the river to prevent raids &c. I do not think that there is any likelyhood of a forward movement soon. I do not think that Gen'l Meade has force enough to make any offensive move. I believe that Lee has been reinforced / lately but I cannot tell how much. His Army was fully as large as Meades before but I do not consider it was near as efficient as ours. His Army was discouraged and worn out, ours was elated with success and did not feel tierd until after they found that Lee had escaped across the Potomac. At present our men are now in good spirits as far as fighting is concerned but they are decidedly opposed to being moved about so much to no purpose. During the last week we have camped up on the same farm as much as three times and only remained one night each time. I cannot see that we have done any good so far by our moving.

 

            The officers from this division who were sent after conscripts have not returned yet, but we expect them every day.

 

My Company has got pretty small again. I have only 25 privates present for duty. I have had to send several away who were sick and I have a number on detached service. We are drilling now / every time we stop. The men grumble a great deal about it but they need it. I will have busy times if the Co. is filled with conscripts. Lt Hawkins is temporarily in command of Co. D. and Sergt Marshall is sick and I have but one sergt who can drill men well (Jesse Corbus) he will do most of the drilling but I will have to be out to oversee it. I miss Sergt Marshall very much. he was left back in Maryland sick and is now in Annapolis. He is the best sergt in the Reg't. I think he will be back soon I hope he will, it would take a great deal of duty off of my hands.

 

I must close, it is late and I do not know but we will move tomorrow.

 

My love to the family

                                   

Your Affectionate Son            J.S.Winans

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