(To Rebecca Jane Spratley)

(Mrs. R. L. Judkins)

 

Camp 13^th Regt V^a Cavalry

Brandy Station Culpeper Coty V^a

Nov 1. 1862

 

Dear Sister

                        Your highly prized letter bearing date of the 29^th Oct came to hand on 30^th. I am delighted to know that you all are well and am proud to day that I am in the full enjoyment of health and so are all the boys I was verry sorry to hear of the deaths of Mrss Graves & Shriver. I had seen something of it in the papers but was in hopes it was not so from the imperfect statement until I received a letter which has confirmed it and since your letter I reckon I have heard a dozen different statements about it. I am in hopes the government will take some steps to brake up such a band of murderers for unless it does no one will be safe on the river within reach of Jamestown as they could easily cross the river and murder a whole family and return before any one could be got at to do anything with them. Oh! how I do wish our Regiment could be turned loose upon them for about an hour or two I hardly think enough would be left to hold a court martial after that. I had rather kill one of them than a dozen Yankees. Oh it makes me feel sad to think that the lives of so many dear ones are thus exposed and we cannot lend them any assistance and not even a shadow of hope of our being able to close soon. We / have been put in a Brigade of Cavalry commanded by Genl Fitzhugh Lee and it is thought we will be sent to Stewart's Division soon if so we are away for the war certain. We have had two brushes with the enemy since we have been at this place but our company were not in but one rather I may say we have been in three as we got in two fights in one day our company were in both of them. We routed the first party without the loss of a man either killed prisoner or wounded. we captured 18 of the enemy; that was at Manassas rite on the old Battle Ground we then started back for camp some 15 miles distant and when within four miles of camp were surprised by a scouting party who had ambushed us and poured a perfect storm of bullets into us before we knew anything of their being anywhere near us. It threw our men perfectly off their guard at first but a command from our gallant Major who was in command soon had them all drawn up in line and a charge (on the bushes ordered which was all that could be seen) which was done in fine style and routed the Yankees in less than no time capturing three and killing a Captain. The Captain was killed by Major Belcher. The Captain took three deliberate shots at the Major before he fired on him but the second shot from the Major brought him to the ground. our loss there was one killed a Captain Jeter from Petersburg and one wounded a Mr Hines from Isle of Wight belonging to Captain Burts Company. two of our companys had a brush with them yesterday near Bull Run. they came / scouting up there and a train of cars passed them on the Manassas Road going to Bull Run after wood. our men thought that was too nice a chance to play them a trick to let it pass. so they set to work and tore up the track for some distance then went off a little ways to see what would be the result of their work on the action of the train. they had not long to wait before the train came in sight and in a short time after the engine was running on nothing but the ties the rails having been taken away by our men. as soon as they found out what was to pay every man jumped from the train and our boys put rite after them before they had time to do anything and captured 78 out of 90 which were all on the train. Some of them fired a few shots but done no other damage than wounding one of our men in the arm and that was a flesh wound which will not inconvenience him but for a short while. We are expecting the prisoners here every minute. Our Company will go out tomorrow on a scout and according to the two last scouts we will get in a brush before we return. I omitted to say that on the day our company was in the fight we had one man killed on picket & two taken prisoner, the one killed belonged to Captain Winfields company also one of the prisoners. the other belonged to Capt Burts his name was Hobbs. Billy Baugh's substitute. we had three companys besides ours in the fights Cousin Jimenus Spratley and myself were not in the fight we had to ride all the night before to get a guide and the Major told us we had better not go as he knew our horses could not stand after rideing them so hard the night before. Lenius & all / the boys sends their kind regards to you all. I have no other news to write you but will write again as soon as we return from off the scout which will be about ten days. we have to go about 15 miles from here on the Alexandra Rail Road and scout from there until we are relieved which is in about ten days Generally Brother William sends his love to you all. You must write me often and direct your letters as before we are only seven miles from Culpeper C.H. we send there every day after the mail. My sincere love to you all. I must now close by subscribing myself as ever your

                                                                                                           

devoted Brother

Junius N. Spratley

 

P.S.

[paper fold] we get back but if you see any way to send any word to Bro Williams tell them to send me some socks by the first passing I am almost sockless

                                                                                                           

J.N. Spratley

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