Camp at Falmouth Va May 9^th 1863

 

Dear Parents.

                        I did not think when I wrote my last letter in Fredericksburg that I should write another one in Falmouth, but such are the fortunes of war. The night that I wrote my last letter I received one from you with $5.00 in it. And that night we were doing Provost duty right up to the handle The next morning we found to our surprise that the enemy with a force of about 10,000 men had taken possesion of the heights while our troops had gone on to form a junction with Hooker. You may suppose that we felt a little shaky when we found that to oppose them we had only / our little Brigade of about 1500 men. But we felt determined to lay some of them low before they should get into the town. We were immediately thrown forward to the edge of the town in the houses. And then commenced some very pretty sharpshooting on both sides. Not a man could show himself but he would get a score of bullets whistling all around. And when we had to run across the streets to relieve natures wants to see them dodge would cause shouts of laughter from both sides. It made me think of a party of boys snowballing around a country school house rather than men trying to take each others lives. But such things / must have an end and as "Night drew her sable mantle o'er the scene" the firing ceased and then we tried to sleep but an occasional shot would open our eyes. It is curious what excitement will do, when everything was still it seemed as if I couldnt possibly stand or sit I was so awful tired and sleepy but the first shot would make you so you wouldnt hardly know you had been tired or sleepy. The next morning at 3 oclock we were fell in and marched through the town and halted near the river and waited until all the troops had crossed then crossed and marched back to our old camp. There we learned that Hooker had fell back to this side of the / of the river and all the troops were marching back to their old camps. I dont know what to make of it. We cant get a paper for Hooker wont allow any to come to the army. I think that he got handsomely whipped. He chose his own ground had 120,000 men and then had to fall back. It beats McClellan's time all hollow. If with those advantages he couldnt whip them when may we expect a victory. But it may not be a defeat. We are not any ways discouraged, but what we want is to know the truth of these matters, then we shall be satisfied and not till then. I received a letter from Mr Whitcomb a very good one too which I shall answer at the earliest convenience. And now with much love to all I remain as ever your

                                                           

Affect Son

George. H. Patch.

 

This is a splendid day. I have been in swimming. I weigh 135 lbs

 

That story about that telegraph was all a humbug.

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