Fredericksburg, Va.

May 23^rd/62

 

Dear Sister.

I recd yours of the 12^th in good time and was glad to hear from you once more. I am well at present and hope that those few lines will find you the same. John and Art are well as common.

 

Our regiment has moved since I wrote you last as you will see by the heading of this. we are now in Fredericksburg, divided up in companies for guards and patroll. our company are guarding a bridge over the river but I must / stop to go to roll call. it raines to night and it is verry dark. There was a Division came here yesterday they are under command of Major General Shields. they have been on the march for the last 12 days and have come from General Banks column in western Va; they will probably cross the river tomorrow to make an advance. The President and cabinet were here to day and it is supposed that there will be a general advance in a day or two. there is expected to be a battle before the troops go far from here. it is said that there are 45000 rebs about 12 miles from / here. There are deserters coming in nearly every day.

 

There was a skirmish about 3 miles from here sunday before last. 13 rebs were taken prisonors. there was one horse killed on one side and that was all the damage done. The shot that killed the horse was fired at one Brigadier General Patrick but luckily it missed him and and killed a horse for one of his Orderlies. some of the boys say that if there is a battle our regiment will not see it for there is three Divisions in advance of us. ours is the 3^rd Division in McDowals Corps and Major General Shields goes in advance of all. it is after nine oclock / and I must stop soon and go to bed for I have to be up every other night for we come on guard as often as that. There have been three bridges built across the river since we came here besides the railroad bridge. The cars run from here to Aquia creek and there the steamboat goes to Washington so there is a direct line to washington the telegraph also runs from here to washington and fortress monroe.

 

write when you can, for I must stop now for the lights are ordered out.

D. Chase.

To M^rs Mary Kennedy

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