Bristow's Station, Va.

Oct. 5^th 1863.

                                   

Dear Sister,

                 The first thing you will want to know is "what brings you here" aint it so? Well I'll tell you. our legs brought most of us, those that their legs didnt bring didnt come at all. they'll wait till the next train. To be serious now. I dont quite understand this move, not all of it, some of it I can. we are to guard the railroad and fortify along it, thats all I know sure. We got orders Thursday night about seven oclock to pack up our duds and start. we did pack up and at eleven we left our camp and turned our faces to the northward. we were about an hour in getting straightened out, so it was midnight before we got fairly under way. You mustn't think the whole army came with us, nor the Sixth corps either, only the third Division of our Corps and we are scattered along the railroad / from the Rappahannock river to Bristow's Station. Wheatons Brigade was left at Rappahannock station, Shalers at Catletts Station, and Eustis' at this place (Eustis is our Brigade General. he's just got his star) The roads were in good condition for marching so we got along pretty well. we marched till nine oclock Friday morning before we stopped for breakfast where Wheaton's Brigade was dropped. It commenced raining at daylight slow at first, but by the time we got ready to start after breakfast eleven oclock it rained like John, wind north east it came so hard at times that the officers horses would not go on. so we would stop till it was a little less violent and then go on again. We were calculating to go to Warrenton Junction that night but the storm was so hard and the men tired and wet, that Gen Terry ordered a halt between two and three at a station I believe is called Beals. here we staid all night, made rousing fires and got partly dry eat supper and turned in I slept well enough but a good many didnt I guess for I heard them getting off some pretty big swearing / along two or three oclock in the morning and pretty soon I saw the light of two or three fires through the tent. It cleared away in the night and the next day was pleasant and warm. the Gen. let us stay by our fires till we had got all our tents dry when we pushed on. Co I was just on wagon guard we had our knapsacks and all our load carried for us so we had a good easy time of it. At Catletts we stopped for dinner Shaler with his brigade was left here and Terry stopped too. the Division wagons stopped so we had to take our knapsacks and things and carry them to the Brigade teams and they brought them the rest of the way. The effect of Jacksons raid around Pope is still very plain to be seen along the railroad the last mile we came the sides of the railroad is all covered with the remains of burnt cars I dont know how much below here it is so. Yesterday Sunday we were at work all day in putting up our tents a permanent camp we think. Lewis and I have a good board hut with our four pieces of tent for the roof. good winter quarters. I think we shall stay here as long as the railroad is wanted for transporting supplies to the army how long that will be we cant tell. / It is not a very delightful country the wind can sweep across here clear from Nova Scotia I guess. wood is half a mile off, and there aint any water within a mile and a quarter. we are going to rig up some kind of a place in the tent to have a fire I think we can make a good fireplace out of this railroad iron. I think there will be no bother now in sending a box with the shirts in it. Direct to Co I. 2^nd R.I.V. 2^nd Brigade 3^rd Division 6^th Corps. Bristow's Station, Va. and I think it will get here in three days after you set it going I rather think the ones that wrote those pieces in the paper about boxes doing more harm than good have some interest in the Sutlers department and would rather have the boys pay them their money than to have the boxes come from home. I never saw any harm done unless a man made a hog of himself and eat all he had at one meal, or when the boxes had a lot of liquor in them. I dont suppose you will send any of that to me. Wood brings an awful price dont it. I dont suppose nine dollars is worth any more now than six and a half when I was at home I am glad to hear Pa has got to carting wood again I guess you will not hardly get this letter Tuesday night do you think so? Did Ma get a premium on her braid this year. You had better be careful how you show my letters to the gals. L C Cook.

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