Union Mills Fairfax Co

                                                                                                            Va. May 30. 1863

 

Dear Parents I received your letter day before yesterday and was glad to hear that you are all well and geting on well with the work I have a very eazey time now we drill 2 hours each day and have once in a while an inspection and review last Tuesday their was a review and inspection of this Regt. and the 16^th By Gen. Abercromby the Commander of the Division the 16^th tried hard to beat us but could not though they have drilled three times as much as we have the / Gen. said both Regts did very well and could not be beat in marching by eny thing but regulars and that they could not beat us in the manuel of arms their are 3 or 4 trains go doiun down to Bealton and other stasions every day to eazy rations and forage to the Cavelry the 16 has gone down on the Rail Road and the 12 has taken their place here their was a train guard detailed yesterday from this Reg. to go to Beatton I thought I would go so I got leaf of the Col. and went had a fine ride we all rode on top / of the cars and they run very fast some of the way the road is the roughest that I ever saw the cars rocked and jumped so as I never saw them before every train that goes has a guard of 25 or 50 men on it and the Road is guarded all the way so the rebs cannot tare it up I had a paper from you yesterday and a letter from Ellen Souther they are all well I have had no letter from Claremont for some time I wont write eny more this time so good morning from your affectionate son Edward Grannis

 

we have just had a fine shower and now the sun shines hot as ever it is as hot now as it is in Vt. in the summer but I dont mind that hot wether never hurt me this is the finest Country we have been in we are encamped on a farm once owned by a man by the name of Beale their is 7000 acres in the farm but the owner is gone the Rail Road runs runs through it from Alexandria to Rappahannock river the 12 is down at Rappahannock stasion 4 miles below here except 2 Cos. which are back 10 or 12 miles on the Rail Road / and 2 Cos of this Regt are 7 miles back to guard the Rail Road and it takes 2 Cos to a day to do the picketing so that their are 6 Cos left in camp we have no drill at all now I dont think of eny more worth writeing if what I have is and I dont know as you can read it so good after noon from your

 

                                                affectionate

                                                            son

                                                Edward

                                                Grannis

 

my health is better since we left the old camp the Bitters did me some good

I am getting strong now every day

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