Alexandria Aug 2^nd 1861

 

Dear Brother

                        I received your letter of the 28^th I believe on last Wedensday. I have neglected to write to you as often as I ought. The last letter I wrote to you was dated the day before the rout at Bulls Run. That was a bad day for us. I said for us but we were not in the fight. We were placed on the extreme left. We started about 5 Oclock in the morning and marched and countermarched for about 2 hours. We were then placed in the woods and lay there untill the afternoon. the fight was about 3 miles to our right. By climbing upon the trees we could see the battle quite plainly. We lay quietly in the woods untill about 4 in the / afternoon when we were apprised that the rebels were trying to outflank us by the fireing of the batteries in the edge of the woods. We marched down where the fireing was and covered the retreat of the artilery from the cavalry of the enemy. we were the last ones to leave that woods and when we left them we formed in line of battle and hollow square to receive Cavalry. But after receiving 3 or 4 shots from the rifled cannon they turned and we were left to lay down on our arms which we did for about a couple of hours or so when we were awakened and and started back towards Fairfax. We were not aware of the retreat of of our main body untill we were near  .  .  .

 

We began to feel pretty weary I tell you. I never was so near used up as I was that time night / We stopped at Fairfax an hour or two when were roused up again and told that the enemy were only two miles in our rear but we were marched back here without any interuption. We saw some of the realities of war soldiers of every regiment and kind straggling along weary and some wounded. Waggons loaded with provisions were scattered along the road left by the drivers and upset in the ditch. I guess that Gen Scott will be a little more cautious the next move he makes in that direction. Since we have returned we have been quite quiet. We were apprehensive of an attack here for a day or two after our return but it has not come yet. There has been a great excitement among some of the two year regiments as there was a report that no two year Regts were accepted and they would be sent / home. The boys were not very sorry on account of this as we are not verry well fed or used but I guess that it was all gammon. But how are all the folks at home? Oh! how I would like to see them all again. This is almost a wilderness of a country. But There is one favorable feature which is the peach orchards. They are almost ripe now. But Virginia with her peach [paper fold] Are you done harvest yet? How are the crops this year. How does old Mr Patterson come on. Have you finished the shinghiling yet. How does Lizzie come on? Are you going to New York. Did you send those colothes home to Fort Plaine.

 

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                        Copy—

                                                                                                Alexandria Aug 2, 1861

Dear Brother:

                        I rec'd your letter of the 28^th. I believe on last Wednesday—I have neglected to write to you as often as I should. The last letter I wrote you was dated the day before the rout at Bull's Run that was a bad day for us. I say for us but we were not in the fight. We were placed on the extreme left. We started about 5 oclock in the morning & marched & countermarched for about two hours We were then placed in the woods & lay there till the afternoon. The fight was about 3 miles to our right. By climbing the trees we could see the battle quite plainly We lay quiet in the woods till about 4 P.M. when we were apprised that we were the rebels were trying to out flank us by the firing of the batteries in the edge of the woods We marched down where the firing was & covered the retreat of the artillery from the cavalry of the enemy We were the last to leave the woods & when we left we formed in line of battle & hollow cav square to receive cavalry. But after receiving 3 or 4 shots from the rifled cannon they turned & we were / left to lie down on our arms, which we did for about 2 hours when we were awakened & started back for Fairfax. We were not aware of the retreat of our main body till we were near Fairfax. We began to feel pretty weary I tell you I never was so near used up as I was that night. We stopped at Fairfax for an hour or two when we were roused up again & told that the enemy were only two miles in our rear. but we marched back here without any interruption. We saw some of the realities of war—soldiers of every kind & regiment straggling along weary & some wounded—Wagons loaded with provision were lef scattered along the road left by their drivers & upset in the ditch. I guess Gen. Scott will be a little more cautious the next move he makes in that direction. Since we returned we have been quite quiet. We were apprehensive of an attack for a day or two after our return but it has not come yet. There has been a great excitement among some of the 2 years Regiments as there was a report that no 2 years Reg's were accepted & they would be sent home / The boys were not very sorry on account of this as we are not very well fed or used. But I guess it was all gammon. But how are all the folks at home—Oh! how I would like to see them all again. This is almost a wilderness of a country. But there is one favorable feature which is the peach-orchards. They are almost ripe now. But Va. with her peach-orchards cannot begin with N. York. Are you done harvest yet? How are the crop this year? How does old Mr. Patterson come on? Have you finished shingling yet? How does Lizzie come on? Are you going to N.York? Did you send those clothes home to Fort Plain?

 

                                                                                    Your Aff. Bro—

                                                                                                W. S. Mili[?]

 

Alfred Mili[?]

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