Camp Sedgewick.      

Near Brandy Station. Va.

Dec 4^th 1863.

                       

My Dear Sister.

                                    It has been a good while since I have written to you and I suppose all this time the post office has been pretty thoroughly watched but to no use.

 

The Army of the Potomac has been off on a "bust" and of course I have been with it couldnt very well do otherwise. We left here Thanksgiving morning and crossed the Rapidan that night at twelve oclock. lay still till midnight the next night and then having discovered the rebels had left in front we pushed on after them. we overtook them at noon and halted, raining at the time like the old Harry, where we lay that afternoon and night up the next morning at five, got breakfast, and started at six on the march, our Division being detached from the corps and placed under / command of Gen. Warren of the Second Corps We marched all day through the mud and at dark got where we were wanted. the rebels were in front within cannon shot. the next morning we expected a general engagement would commence, skirmishers where thrown out and it was but a short time before we run into the rebel cavalry skirmishers. Co. I was thrown forward as a skirmish reserve and we lay still all day in that position there was an occasional spat between our batteries and a few stray bullets from rebel pickets flew over our heads that was about all the fighting there was in our neighborhood there was cannonading all around us and some musketry at dark we were drawn off and marched away four or five miles and camped for the night. lay still all the next day and had got into bed for a good nights rest, when the order come to "pack up" "and make no noise about it." that night we marched eighteen miles some of the time as fast as we could run. sunrise / in the morning found us on the No side of the Rapidan out of the reach of rebel batteries. we lay still noon, then marched in this direction as far as Mountain Run and camped. yesterday noon we got here having been away eight days. It seems we made this move as a feint to counteract some movements being made by the rebels. I dont think Meade intended to fight any of the time I do not think he stayed over the river as long as he intended neither, by the way we "got up and got" Tuesday night, and it wouldnt be the strangest thing in the world to me if we "got up and got" out of of here before many days. I think we shall fall back to the North side of the Rappahannock before many days. I believe one man is the sum total of the loss in this regiment. there is so much that I want to write that I cant write nothing so you will have to wait a few days before you get a very connected account of anything from me. Your letter dated 22^nd I got this morning. another had ought to be here if it was sent at your usual time of mailing letters, Did you get a paper from me. 

 

The old B.O.X. arrived Monday morning I think it was, and it was lucky for me that it did. the shirts were in good condition after being washed out. the rest of the stuff eatables, were in a sorry pickle. a few apples were good and about half the cheese. the rest was all "shit" (excuse the word, but that expresses the idea best) there was a few apple stems with a little strip of paper hitched to them all soaked. the shirts kept the the wet off from the stationery mostly. I gave the necktie marked Old woman to Lewis and the apple marked in the same way to Loomis. Lewis sends his love to Bell Is there a chance for a match think. Thank Lucetta and Bell for me for the hazle nuts, and my necktie they sent, also Ma, Pa, Eva, and your self too for all the rest of the stuff I found the twin apple of Pa's all rotten. There was cartloads of just such stuff brought in with mine all spoilt. the cream tartar and saleratus I let the captain have I couldnt carry it he gave me 25 cents the butter of Ma's I took along with me and a pound besides. got some of it now. It looked too bad to see it all spoiled but it couldnt be helped the whole box was all alive with maggots quarter of an inch long but I was glad enough to get the shirts you can believe that.

 

[top margin upside down]

 

Its so near Sunday again that I guess this will do for next Sundays letter what do you think I should like to get your next letter to see if my 20 is all right Lowell C. Cook. Co I 2^nd R.I.V.

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