Dec. 18th, 1862

Dear Wife,

I wrote the first part of this 3 days ago, we were then near Dumfries and I expected to mail it there, but when in five miles of there we were ordered back to Fairfax Station where we are resting today.

We have marched eight days over the worst roads you ever saw but I have stood the march well. We are well but Cook and Beckwith. Cook has a bad cold and sore throat, Beckwith is lame. 22 of our Co. were left at Harpers Ferry.

You must depend upon the papers for news from us for we have no chance to write or send and we don’t know where we are going or

Somewhere in Virginia, Dec. 15th

Dear Wife,

We are encamped for the night and knowing you must be anxious to hear from me personally, I take this dirty paper and write you a few lines.

You probably know we are on a march to join Burnside and are now about ten miles from Dumfries. We have marched, this makes five days we have marched without a halt. I have had to throw away some things in order to lighten my load but I stand the march first rate. What would have killed me at home does me good here, it seems strange that we can carry 60 lbs. and march 15 or 20 miles in a day when at home

Mt. Carmel, Sabbath afternoon, Dec

Dear, dear husband,

Thursday night I received your letter written last sabbath and was very glad to hear that you was better and that you had got fixed comparatively comfortable, and only the next day Mr. Beach called and left your watch and said that you were off for the seat of war. It came upon me so suddenly, the news of your long tedious march, and the watch right from your hands, &c. that I was too much overcome to say much to him. He said you was well and hearty for which I feel as if I couldn’t be sufficiently thankful.

Last night I received your line written on the eve of your

Loudon Valley, Dec 9th 1862

Dear Wife,

I have nothing particular to write but we are under marching orders and expect to move tomorrow morning at sunrise and I don’t know when it will be convenient for me to write again. It is expected we are to come back here but I have no faith to think so, we had just got comfortably fixed for winter or should be in a few days. Some of the boys think it tough after they have worked hard to get a place to live in to have to leave but I think it is all for the best. I am better contented when doing something than laying idle in camp. It is supposed