Loudoun Heights Nov 1st, 1863

Dear Wife,

I have just time to inform you that I am yet in the land of the living and in spite of my exposure. I suppose before this reaches you, you will be anxious to know what has become of me. I might have sent a line the day before we broke up camp but we did not expect to leave then and I waited, hoping to get your Sunday letter, but I was disappointed in that and have not got it yet but I know you wrote one.

We broke up camp Thursday morning and came to this place. Got here at dark, our company was immediately sent out on picket. I had

Oct 28th Camp near Harpers Ferry

Dear Wife,

When I sent my last letter I told you that if we did not move that I would add a line in the morning, but it was thought certain that we should go and I was afraid the letter would not if I waited ‘till morning, so I put it in that night. We have not gone yet as you will see by this, we were ready to move all day Saturday and Sunday and are ready now at a minute’s notice but they don’t “speak to us that we go forward” yet and we are settling down to our old business of drilling 6 hours a day. It don’t look as

Oct. 26th Camp near Harpers Ferry

Dear Wife,

I have nothing in particular to write you today but I set here in this cold, rainy day without fire and with poor shelter made of our rubber blankets. My fingers are so numb that I can’t feel the pen.

My thoughts naturally turn toward you and my home, so I sit down and hold my paper on my knee while I have a little talk with you (as you say) in imagination.

You need not think from the way I commence this that I am feeling bad, I am not, but you know that gloomy weather always has it’s influence on the minds of all and mine in particular, and now

Oct 25/62 Camp near Harpers Ferry

Dear Wife,

I should not write you today but I don’t know as I shall have an opportunity tomorrow, for we had orders to be ready to march at 9 o’clock this morning but it is now one o’clock P.M. and we have not marched yet and I don’t see any signs of it. We were ready at the time set so that the reason for delay is not in us. If we do not move I shall write you tomorrow.

I received your very blue letter last night. I was really sorry that you felt so bad and was so near sick and so discouraged about the condition of the country. I think