Hazle Dell, Va.          

Nov. 15. 1863.

                       

Dear Sister.

             Not knowing any other name for the place we are in I give it the name you see. We left Kelly's Ford Thursday morning as soon as the first red streak appeared in the east, and lined it up the river like a streak. we crossed the Rappahannock at the Station that bears the name of the river soon after sunrise and kept on up stream bearing to the left a little and reached the place we are in now about noon. We must be somewhere in the neighborhood of Hazle river and for that reason I dated my letter in the way I have.

 

It has been very pleasant since we came here until last night when a thunder shower came up and rained like old / Harry all night and till about nine oclock this morning. it cleared away then the sun coming out warm and pleasant. there was a splendid rainbow at the time It wouldnt be strange if we got a little wind and a cool one too before the sun goes down When it was raining the hardest this morning quite a sharp artillery firing opening up in the direction of Culpepper Court House. It sounded a great deal to close to be agreeable as we stood a chance to get orders to pack up and be in readiness to receive visitors. In about an hour it pretty nearly all ceased though we can hear an occasional report yet, but it is not so near and every discharge grows more and more indistinct. It may have been nothing but a rebel cavalry reconnaissance to find out our position. Now that the sun has come out and partly dried our tents we could pack up with a good deal better heart than when the rain was pouring down upon us like a thousand of brick. 

 

            I got your letter Wednesday night you mean that I shall not get out of stamps at present dont you. "I thank you very kindly" as Ben Spear used to say. I think I would like to step out to the barn some of these fine mornings and help Pa milk a cow or two. then I should like to step into the house and help Ma eat a warm biscuit or so. I suppose Charley and Eva are living in town now. dont it seem still over home, to have them gone. but it may be tother Charley can make noise enough for all three, or as much as three ought to make. I should like to get back again and do my share of making a little racket. I am afraid it will be as you say, I shant be able to call anyone by their right names if I ever get back. Bell and Lucetta I suppose are as big as you are by this time and it may be are making arrangements to have their names changed. how is it, is it so. Do you suppose Bony would know me now? Ask him if he does remember me. 

 

Jo Wood seems to be very much troubled in mind of late in regard to being away from the regiment. I have received several letters from him in each of which he seems to be very anxious to clear himself of blame in leaving and also to have it understood by all that he took an active part in the fight of Salem heights he says he has received a letter from Lieut. Waldron then in command of the company showing the part he took in the fight, but he never mentions in any manner whatever, of being wounded. if he had only staid ten minutes longer he would have been all right and in all probability been a commissioned officer today. I saw him not more than ten minutes before we fell back from the woods. a cheer was being given for something that made me look back behind me and Jo was swinging his cap over his head and yelling like an Indian, that was the last I saw of Jo. soon after I heard he had been grazed by a ball, had thrown his gun and started for the rear. it seems he didnt stop till he got to the D.C. He will not come back now our time is so near out, but he says he feels as though it was his place to be here. I see I have written out so I will stop. L. C. Cook.

 

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I would like to have a few needles full of black linen thread in your next.

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