Camp Near Fredericsburg Va.

May 10^th 1863.

                                   

Dear Sister.

              I was in hopes of being able to answer two letters of yours this morning but I have not got your this weeks letter yet so I can answer only one. I wrote you in the middle of the week but there was so much else that had to be thought of that I forgot to say anything about your letter.

 

I think by what you write you think we moved from our winter quarters to Falmouth and stopped there. I remember I commenced my letter a week or two ago by dating it as though from Falmouth but we remained in the same old winter quarters till we left to cross the river a week ago Tuesday. We are not in our old camp now, The officers thinking probably that a new camp would be a little more healthy. we are nearer the river now, about a mile from it, where there is plenty of wood. It dont seem like home we are so near the old camp. I got your envelopes &c in good shape. I thank you very much for them. the papers are very acceptable to read these lazy days when there is nothing to do. I am sorry you ate so many greens as to cause a headache. I wish I had been there to have helped you eat them. Our wounded have all been sent away to Washington to be sent from there home I suppose. Jo Wood they say is very slightly wounded in the chin. I did not think he would get away but it seems he has. Orderly Serg^t Henry A Greene was killed in the woods and / left. John Donovan was killed and left in the woods. Leander A. Arnold shot through the bowels, died Friday morning J. Oreilly wounded, reported since died. Orin S. Mowry shot through the lung also reported dead. he was the one that stood in my place. It seems curious to think of it, that we should have changed places in line so little time before. Seems as if it was on purpose to save my life. He went in talking and joking the same as if it was an every day affair. Matthew L. Colvin was shot as we were going up the hill into the woods the ball entered his canteen passed through and went into his hip. The first thing he said was "Well! that will give me a chance to finish up this summers campaign in R.I." Serg^t Wight was shot through the thigh in the woods. He tore off his pants and when we fell back after the fight he crawled after us as well as he could. / He had got nearly out when he remembered his money most all his four months pay, went back and got it and had got outside the woods when he met some of our men coming to help him. As soon as the fight began Lewis who belongs at the left right of the line with the big fellows came down to the left with me, but we couldnt keep together any more than George and I could at Bull Run. I saw him several times in that fight. "Give it to them" he would say I fired nineteen times. he twenty two. I had my twentieth round in my gun when we left. We had a tough time while we was gone. no sleep Saturday night. Sunday night in line of battle. Monday night on the skedaddle, and the next three on picket in a cold N.E. storm, wet through all the time. we feel some better now, getting our potatoes beef steak, going to have soft bread as soon as they can get the ovens to working again The Sixth Corps for a while was in a pretty tight place but it made out to get away L C Cook

 

[front top margin upside down]

 

It seems Ans is going East again to work. I had a letter from him the other day. If you can get envelopes to me cheaper than I can get them here I would like to have you send them and I will pay you.

 

I guess Ma thinks my memory must be rather poor. she says "be a good boy" so often has she got any cold victuals she wants cleaned up. I think I could do it as well as Red used too. A piece of Indian cake I could manage too

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