Camped oposit Fredericksburg Va. July 11th 1862 Dear Brother and Sister, Having a little leasure time I will try and answer your kind letter of the 7th inst. which I rec. Wednesday and was very happy to hear from you I assure you. I am happy to hear that you are all well. I am glad to hear that Freddy enjoys himself so well, with you. I would liked to of been up there with him. I suppose Emily you have got so you can make the House work take up by this time cant you, do you like it first rate. I hope Freddy does not trouble you much, you must send him home when he gets troublesom to ______________________________ 2 you. I think he intends to be a good boy. I rec. a letter from Rachel yestarday. She was over to Bedford she and Clinton were having a good time picking Strawberrys and Blackberrys. She has made some preserves she sais for me when I get home. I sent her my Minature a few days since. She thinks we are rather a rustic looking set out here. We look a little Black, something like, but we enjoy good health. We live very well now. We have nice warm Soft bread most every day, and every few days we have Rost Beaf, Baked Beanes, Pork, and Ham. We have got a nice large Brick Oven that we made. We have some _________________________________ 3 very hot weather here, it makes the Grease run to sit still under a Shade. I should hate to March in such hot days, my health is very good. I sent for some bitters of Rachel because I thought I ought to have something to Clear me out after having the Jaundice. I enjoy myself very well, you must write to me often Emily, and David I suppose you have got over your feares in regard to the safety of Little Mack. To be sure he fell back, but he loses nothing by the move (concidering his Inferiority in the nomber of his Troops to the Rebeles) but is the gainer, by it, as you probably have learned by this time. Richmond is ___________________________________ 4 McClellans, and the Rebeles cant prevent it. Those were hard Battles that he fought there and it was a bold move that he made a changing his Posicion in the face of such a Superior force. The Rebeles must of suffered terribly. We got Orders yestarday to be ready to March in an hour or to March at an hours notice. The Order came from Gen Pope, but we have not gone yet and may not go for a week and I should not be supprised at any moment if orders came to March. We can never tell when we shall be on the March. I think the War news is qwite encourageing yet, and we have great reason to be thankful for the continu -ed Success of our Armes. We like the Change of Comman -ders in our Department, (the puting of Gen. Pope in Chief Commander,) very much. he is the Man for us. There is some activity to him. We have had enough of McDowell. ____________________________________ 5 I do not know but he is a good General, but I have never been able to see it yet, he is almost univercaly disliked in his own Corps. We have no faith in him, but never mind it is as Gen. Pope sais, and not Gen. McDowell. We have not seen Pope yet, he Commands (you know) Bankses, McDowells, and what was formaly Gen. Fremonts Corpses. We do not know which way we shall March, when we do go. Some think to Gordnsville, and some think to Richmond. I would prefer to go to the latter place. I want to go there before I go home. I rather think they will raise their compliment of Regiments in N.H. without much trouble, a least as _____________________________ 6 soon as the other States will accordingly. NH has done as well as any other State thus far, in sending out troops, and cirtainly a great deal better in their out fits. This I have seen myself, and her Troops have been among the that have been sent here. They have never wanted in true Courage thus far and I hope never will. I am not ashamed or afraid to have her placed by the side of any of her Sister States for Patriotism or good Troops, but enough of this. I do feel Proud of Freddy, and all my little Family as a Father and Husband should feel, and I would like him out here to play with ________________________________ 7 as you say. That Paper I sent you is a fare specman of the condition of the South. I have rec. a nomber of papers of you lately and I am very much Obliged to you for them. The have afforded me a good deal of pleasure in reading them. I will now Close hopeing to be able to write you a more interesting letter next time. Perhaps I may write from Richmond and perhaps not, continue to direct your letters the same till I tell you different. give my love to all and Write often, and may God bless you all is the Prayer of your Brother. T C Cheney