Charley

Mar. 13/63

Stafford C.H. V^a

March 13^th 1863,

 

Dear Father,

                        Your's of March 2^nd was duly received and acknowledged in mine to Mother. I do not intend that you shall complain of my neglect in writing again, and so I address you again though Mch 3^rd is the date of my last advice from home. Sometimes I find no time to write for several days, and on the whole I flattered myself I was doing pretty well in the letter line, however, if you desire it, I will find or take time to write oftener.

 

Since my last I have had an adventure. Night before last at 12 o'clock, the long-roll roused the 20^th from peaceful slumbers, and the startling story spread, that some Rebel cavalry anticipated an attack on our Picket Line. / Our Reg was sent off to different points in detachments of two companies, and I had command of my co. and co D. with orders to "proceed to Toucer's Stone Mill about three miles from camp, and take a strong position on the south side of the brook". It being as dark as pitch, and I never having been near the locality mentioned I was in some doubt whether I should find it before morning, but of course said not a word and started. After we had gone about a mile I met Gen. Kane and an orderly, who changed my orders. It is astonishing what confusion a little whiskey at Brigade Head Quarters will cause. I almost snickered in the Gen's face as he chewed up his sentences, and talked about this road and that brook, and ended with, "Here, Orderly, tell Capt Arms what I mean". The orderly explained that I was to follow up a certain brook till I came to / a certain ford where two roads forked, near to a certain brown house. A ford across a brook is not very conspicuous in the night, roads in Virginia would be called foot-paths in Conn. and all houses are brown in the dark. However I found the place, and as there were plenty of dead horses in the vicinity had no difficulty in taking a strong position. I established a chain of pickets in front, outposts of observation, flankers and a grand reserve in the rear. It was a grand place for a cavalry raid, and I wished that about three hundred of the Rebs would pay us a visit. It is needless to add that they did not, and at noon yesterday we were ordered back to camp. Not having had a wink of sleep for over thirty hours I lay down at two o'clock yesterday with all my clothes on for a short nap and didn't wake up till seven this morning—17 hours! You can imagine how weary I was. /

 

You have probably seen the notice of the capture of Brig. Genl. Stoughton. He was only 24 years old and our boys knew him well, having seen him often when at Fairfax. So you see Cavalry Raids are not wholly imaginary, and it is well enough to be wide awake. It seems Col Harland is now General Harland. I wrote him a congratulatory letter yesterday asking the number of unemployed A.A.G's in his dept, and what my chances were for an appointment. What of Frank? Has he gone to sea again? Nothing new here. My cold much better. Had a letter from Lucy a few days since. Hear frequently from the Mackies. With much love to the family I remain                   Your aff son,

                                                                                                Charlie

 

Please send me a few postage stamps. Can't get them here.

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