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Rifle pits 4 miles North of Centreville

 

My dear Dot.

                                    I seize the first opportunity to let you know where and how I am. We left the Rapidan Saturday last at midnight, marched to Rappahannock Station Sunday, reached there at dusk, left next day at noon marched back on the advance to Brandy Station, left there that night and marched to Bristow Station, left next morning and marched to Centreville. next day we marched here and commenced building rifle pits. I had charge of this and have busy from early dawn to dark. We are the extreme right of the Army. Our left reaches below Bull Run. We have had terrible trials to undergo of which I will write hereafter. We have out generalled Lee. By hard marching we reached Bull Run battle field before he did and feel secure. Our men are in good spirits and if he attacks us / here, the Rebs will suffer terribly. We are near Chantilly where Pope was outflanked. But we have no fear of that now. Meade has evinced splendid Generalship. I have not heard from you now for nearly 2 weeks, our mails having been sent back to Washington. I suppose a few days now will decide the issue of what must be the battle of the war, unless Lee changes tactics. To add to our discomfort a south east rain has set in. However all is well. Saylor is well. Logo is ditto. He is in command of A Company. We have 5 sick Officers, among them is Weidersheim—chills & fever. We have only 11 line Officers left. Give my love to all, respects to friends. Kiss little ones & believe me to be as ever

                                                                                               

Yours devotedly

Andy

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