Camp Of The Sec. R.I.V.

Near Fredericsburg Va.

June 7. 1863.

                                   

Dear Sister.

                                                It is a splendid morning as you ever saw in the month of June. a shower last night just enough to lay the dust and cool off the air. there is a cool North West wind blowing from the East as the paddy said, that makes the air smell delicious.

 

Hooker has commenced another movement. what it is intended for seems to be a mystery to most everybody. I cant discover any but the sixth corps here. (you must recollect that we are not in our old camp but close by the river ready to cross over on the pontoons. a division is already across, crossed day before / yesterday) The second first corps lay close by us and they went some where yesterday after we came down here and I have heard several say they had been seen going towards Acquia creek. It looks a little to me like another strategic movement so common to the Army of the Potomac and which is nothing more or less than a retreat. If we do fall back to Washington again and fight Lee again in Maryland, if he manages to get away from Hooker as he did from McClellan last summer Hooker had ought to be shot and this army divided among the southern and western armies. We have got some splendid generals. they had not ought to be allowed to command over ten thousand men and Hooker himself cannot handle over one corps as it ought to be done / I should not wonder if Couch would have the command before we get through, and if Grant manages so as to be successful at Vicsburg he will have to look out or he will be ordered to the command of the Army of the Potomac. Our batteries have just commenced shelling again. I want to hear the one hundred pound parrots open. they are silent yet, nothing but our light batteries as yet having had any thing to say. Some of our shells sound like a small water shell going through the air, awash, awash, as though they kept turning over and over. others make only a steady, "whizz" as they go through the air. they done a good deal of execution the day the pontoons were laid the batteries got into position and the pontoons ready to be put into the water before the rebels mistrusted what we was / up to. they then marched a regiment into the rifle pits where they could rake our men while they were at work. the batteries did not fire a shot until the rebels had got where they wanted to and then they opened. it seemed as if every shot struck in the rifle pits and before a great while they had to run and leave us to build our bridges and take our own time about it too. they lost a great many men.

 

Our skirmishers now hold the turnpike leading from the city. the rebels are a little ways beyond once in a while they get into a little spat and exchange shot with each other. It is a curious movement to me but it may be all right.

 

Your letter came through all right with the envelopes. I will send one back and see if you remember it. write all the news that happens around your way. The comb Ma sent me last winter has got broke done in my pocket while asleep I suppose. I am very sorry L.C.C.

 

[side margin]

 

I want you to sign your name when you write again, the two last was anonymous or aynonymous or unanimous just as you like it

 

[top front side margin]

 

I have got some sage yet that you sent me last winter wonder if its very good now

SOURCES