Camped at Culpper C.H. Va. Sept 27, 1863 Dear Father Having a little leasure time to day I will improve it in writing to you to let you know where I am and that I am well, as you have probably already learned the Army of the Potomac has been on the Move again. We now hold a position to the Rapidan River. The Reserve Artillery Corps to which our Battery is now attached and one or two Corps of Infantry are Camped around the Village of Culpepper Court House, some 10 miles North of the Rapidan River. We came here one week ago last Wednesday. We are Camped in a very plesant place, how long we shall stop here I can not tell. We may not advance any further this fall, and we may March forward tomorrow, it is all uncirtain with the Soldier I presume it depends on results else where or what Lee does. ____________________________________ 2 whether Gen. Mead advances yea or nay. We are very anxious to hear the result of Roecrans several days hard fighting, it will be a great Victory for him if he Repulses the overwhelm -ing nombers that have attacked him, he is the Man thatdo it if any of our Gens , if the Rebes are defeated there by him it looks to me that their cause must be desperate indeed, for what hopes can they have else wher,e they have put forth every effort in their Power; to crush Rosecrans in this Battle and if they faile in this; where can they Succeed. Perhaps they had better try the Old Army of the Potomac again. They will not catch us naping. God has blessed the Armys of the Union for the past 4 Months and I trust he will continue to do so till this Wicked Rebelion is crushed out. I am very anxious to hear that Gilmore had taken Charleston or humbled it in the dust. I have ____________________________________ 3 no doubt but he do it before he gets through with them there, it has got to fall sure, the cause of the Union looks prosperous and encourageing everywhere now. We have been blessed with Political and Military success. The former I Concider of nearly as much importance as the latter, for Offices of Government must be sustained by the People to be able to succede. They the Government and as such must be sustained and Supported in their efforts to crush the Rebelion both by our Money and lifes if necessary, and we to the Man or Party of Men that try to Parelise their efforts, such men will yet see the day (if they live) that they will be dispised worse than the Tories of the Revolution. We have had very Cold weather most of the time we have been here, to day I believe ___________________________________ 4 is the warmest day we have had here at Culpepper. It is very cool Nights now, just two years ago yestarday (Sept 26th) we were Sworn in to the U S Service at Camp Stark Manchester NH. So you see we ,the Battery, we have got just one day less than one year more to stay in the Service. That will soon pass by than I am in hopes if the Lord to See my Family and Friends once more. my health is excellent and Spirets good. The health of the Co. is good, and in good Sprirets there is no news to write but what you get as soon or sooner than I do. I had a letter from Rachel a day or two since. She and the Children are well. Clinton L. growes like a little Pig She Said. I also had a letter from Melissa a few days since. She is in NY City boarding with Christiana. They both are well. Christiana makes from $6.00 to $7.00 a week running a Sewing Machine I believe, the same work she done at Boston and at Northfield Vt. Melissa makes $9.00 a week at her traid. Charlie is in Kt. doing Garrison duty I believe Write me soon, my love to Mother and Respects to all enqwiring Friends and God ____________________________________________ 1X bless you all is the Prayer of your affectionate Son T C Cheney