Camp 2 miles South East

of Warrenton V^ia Nov 1^st 1863

 

Dear Brother & Sister

                        your kind letter of the 21^st ult came to hand in due time and found me in good health which I am happy to say is my lot at this time. I was pleased to hear that you all enjoy your usual good health. Since I last wrote you at Culpepper we have done a good lot of marching and counter marching Oct 6^th we left Culpepper for the front on the Rapidan River our Corps relieved the 2^nd Corps so we remained at the front untill Saturday night Following at dark, we took up the line of march back toward Culpepper our Corps covering the retreat of all the Army back as far as the Rappahannock River at day light Sunday morning we arived at Culpepper and halted one hour for breackfast then took up the / line of march and arived safe on the north bank of the Rappahannock at 3 Oclock Sunday afternoon. we camped there for the night and next day we recrossed the river and formed line of battle and marched to within 5 miles of Culpepper expecting to meat the enemy and give them battle, but there main Army had moved off another road and they was but little fighting in our front and that was all done with cavelry. at dark we lay down without puting up tents but was to coald to sleep much at 12 Oclock that night orders came to move so in a few minutes we took up the line of march again back to the Rappahannock and crossed to the north bank and lay down for a hour or two then took up the line march again. up to this time the movements and marching and counter marching was a mistery to us and still we could hear a distant cannonading / in our rear and flank, but at this point the movements and plan of the enemy became known. it was there object to get to the Hights of Centerville and manassas and Bull Run Mountains and cut us off and chuse there position for a battle but I am pleased to say that they where foiled in all this, and at Bristo Station where a corps of there Army met the 2^nd Corps of our Army and gave them battle which lasted some two hours and the Rebels was drove back a mile and a half then night comeing on our Army drew from the field and crossed Bull Run after they had buried the dead and brought off all our wounded and many of the Reb wounded fell into our hands and several hundred prisoners our Corps arived on the Hights of Centerville at 2 Oclock Wednesday, and there and at manassas and Bull run / our lines was formed so as to give the Rebs a warm reception. there object was to gain this point first and capture our wagon train and give us battle which would have been a desperate one but when we had the advantage of position they would not give battle but began to fall back toward the Rappahannock destroying the rail road as they went. So on the Monday the 19^th ult or rather on Sunday it was known they was falling back and monday morning we took up the line of march after them but did not come up to them the Cavelry had come skermishing with there rear guard. on Tuesday night at 9 oclock we arived in Warrenton and camped on the out skirts of the town untill this day one week we came to this plais. I hardly think that we will advance beyond the Rappahannock this fall as it is rather late in the season, and the roads are bad for a Army to move on at this season of the year. I think that we will take up a line nearer the river before going into winter quarters but wood is /

5^th

plenty hear and the boys are makeing good use of it loging up there tents I have my tent loged up 4 logs high. we have reports that more of Lees Army has gone to the South West, and reports that 2 Corps of our army has or is about to leave for that point. The Rebels have more at stake there than in V^ia and would gladly give up this state if they could destroy our Army in the West and retake Chattanooga as it is there main chanel of supplys. the people of Warrenton told us that the Rebs was hard up for food and shoes they acnoledge themselfes to have taken the shoes off our men that they took prisoners and apropiated them to there own use, and I know that all the dead that fall into there hands are striped / of pants shoes and hats for I have saw this when on the march from Centerville to Warrenton, where the Cavelry had a fight we saw four dead on the side of the road all striped. the collum hapened to halt just at this point and the Pioneers buried them. how they are to feed there Army in Via this winter I cant see they is many of the citizens that have nothing but what they get of our Army. O that this cruel war may soon end. William Grimes was to see me to day it is the first time I saw him since in the Army he looks well I had a letter from Martha a few days ago her and Susanna was well Sister Lila still in the city. I have not heard from Cyrus or Nat for some time I should have wrote to them before this but I have not had the / time for the last month. this has been a beautifull Sunday I have wished I was at your plais to attend the protracted meting I hope it may be crowned with success in converting many sinors and leading them to the path of ritchesness. John I am still a sinor I still hope that god will spare my life yet a while that I may repent of my sins many times I feal so thankfull that I have been spared thus far through so many daingers that a soilder has to pass through in such a war as this, but being in so much company and excitement I like many others to soon forget things that should interest us the most. I must now close with love to all. remember me in your prayers, hopeing to hear from you soon again I still remain as ever your affectionate 

Soilder Brother

            Josiah Shick

 

To

John and Mary Sands

SOURCES