Camp Sedgewick       

Brandy Station Va.

March 4. 1864.

 

Dear Sister.

                                    I suppose you are wondering and have been for the past three or four days where in the world I have stepped out to, that no letters come along from this part of the world. Well I will endeavor to inform you to the best of my debility. Marching orders came along Friday evening for us (the Sixth Corps) to get up and get as soon as breakfast was over the next morning which was done according to order. We left camp at nine oclock and marched off in the direction of Culpeper passed through there at half past eleven and at one in the afternoon passed the extreme outposts of the picket line. We halted at five at Crooked Run / fourteen miles perhaps from Brandy Station where we stayed all night. The next morning we started again at about the same hour as the day before and kept on till after noon when we crossed Robinson's R river and proceeded about a mile further and stopped. This was as far as we went, within two miles of Madison Court House. Our pickets were thrown out and we lay there that day and the two next, while the cavalry went on to make the raid. one brigade of infantry was just in advance of us while the remainder of the troops stayed behind and did not cross the river. we were supported by a division of the 3^rd Corps and one of the 5^th. Co I. had the pleasure of going on picket here at the river but were relieved after twenty four hours duty We had the most beautiful weather in the world up to this time and the march out had been a very pleasant / one. the roads were never in better condition, dry and settled, and every thing seemed to be as favorable for campaigning as any one could desire but within an hour after we were relieved from picket an old N. Easter set in which continued through the next day and night. we had just time to get our tents up and get things comfortable before it set in. in the night it became cold enough so as to freeze as it fell, but we did not suffer from the cold as long as there were any rails. you can make your mind up to that. The secon third night at dark we had orders to move back. we had been in expectation of such orders all day, so we were not at all taken by surprise by them. We supposed we were going clear back to camp that night and every one had prepared for it. the mud in some places was clear to my knees soft as _____ and I was mud clear to my _____ We crossed back over the river and stacked arms / when the order was given to rest for the night there was some swearing just then but it did no good. there we was and "we could make ourselves as comfortable as possible" (the usual order on such occasions) it was snowing now and the ground was white with it. no rails very near but we got little fires to going and huddled up around I took out my jack knife and scraped myself as well as I could and turned in slept pretty well though my feet was wet and cold

 

the next morning it was fair and and at 8 we started for camp 20 miles which we reached a little before sundown pretty tired I got on a clean suit of clothes washed up and went to bed and the next morning felt as well as though I hadnt been out of camp I think it was the muddiest marching I ever saw it was lucky we had no trains or we should never got back. The results of the raid you will see in the papers. I know nearly as little of them now as you do. I have been washing and cleaning up all the time since we got back. I think this will do for next Sundays letter dont you.

 

[upside down through written]

 

I have got both your letters one come tonight there is never a word about anything uncommon that a certain person writes. I was some what interested after reading yours to see what there be in the other, as one came along with yours from the person in question, but not a breath of any thing. Its tough aint it I shant have time to write much more for the last piece of candle Ive got got is only a quarter of an inch long. you can guess about how long that will stand the racket. I will try and write something a little more interesting next time. L C Cook.

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