June 8^th, 1863

Camp near Brooks Station, Va.

 

Dear Sister as i received a letter from you on Saturday i thought i would try and write a few lines in answer to it i have but little nuse as i can think of the last time i wrote we had just mooved ower camp the next day or two after i wrote we had orders to moove camp again so we packed up again and mooved about 1½ miles south west towards Fredricks Burg we are about 1 mile directly west of Brooks Station close to the railroad. There was a quite a battleing among the artilery on friday after noon while we were out on drill it was down at Fredricks Burg. ower troops mooved their seige guns down close to the river then commenced laying the pontoons down came the rebs on a double quick from the hights into the brest works close by but the first Conn artilery commenced fireing and the rebs retreated back into the rifle pits about half a mile back then the artilery opened as though the devil was let loos the fire was so heavy and fast that the rebs dared not rais up to retreat back so down went the pontoons acrost went the / sharp shooters deployed right and left and then halted then acrost one corps to the right towards the city of Fredricks Burg then acrost goes an other corps and goes to the left all of this was done under the fire of one of the bes bateries the Government ever had or can have the first Connecticut heavy artilery after the crossing ower troops started on a double quick and to the surprise of the Rebs they were every one taken prisoners they were marched acrost the river and into Washington ower troops sayes the rebs were buried a live in the brest work they wer dug out and brought off the field then ower troops advanced and took the hights not a Reb was found so we hold the city also the hights the general opinion here is that the Rebs have drawn their forse a way and sent it to Vicks Burg but we cannot tell we shall know in a few days ower general is on a recanoicence he returns in a day or two we are under marching orders all the time now we keep 3 days rations in ower haver sacks also ower knapsacks packed all the time we have two howers drill in the morning and one in the after noon we do not have it so / hard as we did since ower drill was changed from the middle of the day to early in the morning and late in the after noon this was done to not have the men be drilling in the hot sun the boys did not like it at first but now they have got used to it they like it better. Sam has got a pair of crutches and is so he comes down to the Company every day he is on a gain all the while but it haves to take its own time the doctor sayes you cannot do mutch for it the doctor sayes it will take a long time to get well but he thinks he will get over it in time

 

i am kicking a round raged sausy fat and dirty as you pleas there is no sign as i sea of a moove the General Mclane ower General that went west is trying to get this Brigade out there he is pavo Martial General of Ohio he says he will have this Brigade if he can get them he has been sending word to the Govornor of Ohio to get the Brigade he has also telegraphed to the president but how he made out i cannot say But I hope he will get / us out there. there is no more nuse as i can think of now so i will close with love to Father Mother Sisters and Brothers.                       

 

From your loveing

Brother W^m A Clark

 

Write as often as you can and i will do the same

 

I was up to General Howards head quarters to church yesterday we had a good sermon the text was,

           

Never be weary in well doing

For in due season you shall reap your reward if you Faint not.

 

There was 3 ladies present they were the wives of some of the officers that belong to the Generals Staff.

 

Leaveing you all in the care of God i will close Good by to all

WAClark

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