Camped at Falmouth Va Apr 28th 1862 My Dear Sister and Brother I received yours of the 13th inst. the 24d and will now try and answer it, as you see we are not at Alexandra or at Manassas, nor York Town, but are on the (North) Side of the Rappahannock River, aposit the City of Fredericksburg, a place of considerable note, it is at the head of navigation on the Rappahannock. Our forces have not occupied the City yet, for the Rebeles Burned all the Bridges that cross the River here when they fled from our folks, but we command the City our Guns are placed so that we could distroy it in 15 minutes. The City Authoritys however have surrenderd it. The Rebel ___________________________________ 2 Armey is supposed to be some ten miles off, our forces took possession of this place last Friday, our Cavelry had a Skourm -ish with the Rebeles some 4 miles back from this place, when they were advanceing on it, but they Skedadled as soon as our Infantry advanced on them. how long we shall stop here I can not tell, but probably not long. The Government have (or our forces) have removed the obstructions that were in the River, (which the Rebeles put there to keep our Gun Boats from comeing up to Fredericksb -urg,) and have brought up a lot of Barges and are Build -ing a Bridge with them across the River, so probably we Shall not Stop but a few days, but Shall on to Richmond, _________________________________ 3 and the Sooner the better. We did expect to go to York Town and Marched back to Alexandra from Centreville the first time we Advanced on that place, expecting to Ship down the Potomac, but we went back to our old Camp Camp Dupont and stoped there three days, and Marched to Alexandra again, or With in three Miles of it and Camped there two weeks or more expecting every day to Ship, but we got Apr 4th to March for Manassas. We passed, through that famous place Apr 6th and not much of a place is it either. There were a few fortifycations, but nothing to brag of, our People have been Greatly humbug -eed and Scared, about the Strength of the Rebel fortifycations at _____________________________________ 4 Centreville and Manassas. They could not long sustain the attact of our Armey. They might pile as many Troops in to them as they could get the former place is the best located by Nature to Sustain an attact, and was the best and Strongest fortifyed. The forts were mounted with Wooden Guns. I Saw them my Self, the first time we advanced on the place. They were Logs, with the ends that Stuck out of the fort blackned. We do not get much news here, the latest we have got, was from the Boston Herald of the 24th which one of our Boys got to day, so you probably get later news, what is transpiring else where than we do. Frederiksburg looks very well as we Stand on the hights this Side of the River and look over on to it, it is a place of some 6,000 Inhabitance. There are two or three Mills on the other Side, and one on this, a Cotton Mill on this one or two Woollen and a flower Mill on the other. There is a grand Water Privelage here, if it was in N.E. Fredericks -burg would be as large or larger than Manchester, for besides the ___________________________________ 5 Water privelage for Manufacture -ing it has as I said Water Communication with the Ocean. as we get no news, I shall not be able to write you any, only such as transpires in Gen McDowells Corps to which we are attached. I received a letter from Rachel to day, dated the 23rd. They were pretty well with the exception that She and Clint had a little Cold. I hope and pray they will get along well, and not be Sick as you Say in your kind Letter, if I am never permitted to meet with them again on Earth, (but I trust in God I may) I hope you will remember them and God will reward you for it, it does not look as though this war could last much __________________________________ 6 longer, for the Rebeles are geting the worst of it every where, and they are a going to right along to. We hear it rhumored that New Orleanes has been taken, but we do not know whether there is any truth in it or not. I expect to get home by July if I live, and God Wills. I am glad that you are pleased with your ring Emily. I am in the ring and nipper business much now. I get so tired Marching that when we get a chance to rest I emprove it. it has been very bad weather most of the time here for a month or more, it has been rainey and cold, and has been hard work to keep warm, but it bids _______________________________ 7 fare to bee good weather now, besides it is geting to be time of the Year for it, but through the blessing of God, I have got along thus far without geting cold, and have been well most of the time, with the exception of two or three weeks past, which time I have had the Jaundice the worst that I ever saw a person have it with one exception, but I am geting over it very well now. We have not had enough snow Emily to have Sleighing, but we have had enough to make it teribal muddy and disagreable. I hope David that you will hear good news from the armey of the Potomac and I am confident _______________________________ 8 you will if you have not all ready. We all have the utmost confidence in McClellan and we think McDowell will do his part of the Work. I feel very greatful David to you for the kind feelings that you Show towards me and mine. God will bless you for it. I do not know of much of any thing that you could send me that would ease my Camp life, besides you could not send it so that I could it in under a month, or two perhaps unless it was something you could send in a letter. We have not been paid of for four Months and as I sent the most of my Money to Rachel, I have not been able to Supply my Self with pens and Postage Stamps. Rachel has Keped me Supplied for most two months, if you will send me a few of Gilletts 303 pens or any as good or Such as you can, and a few Postage Stamps, (put them in a letter) I will make it wright with you, but I must close. Write often, direct the _______________________________ 8X same as you always have done, it is to Dark to _____________________________________________ 5X see to write any more, excuse all mistakes. from your Affectionate Brother T C Cheney