I rec. your letter
~~two~~one week ago last Friday. this is the
first opportunity I’ve had to ans. it.
We left Harper’s Ferry a week last Wednes-
day night – crossed the Shenandoah &
marched a few miles. The next day
marched 5 miles further & camped
two nights. next day marched to
within 5 miles of Snicker’s Gap. The
next day – Sunday – we occupied the
Gap. Our regt. going ahead as skirmishers
as usual. Soon after starting we came
upon the rebel cavalry pickets drove them
up thru the Gap without much trouble
just after crossing the summit of the
mountain we came upon a battery

planted so as to sweep the road & a large
open field. as we had accomplished
our objective – viz. take possession of the Gap we
advanced no further but remained there
till dark as picket firing at then
when we got a chance. they threw several
shells at us two of them struck the
ground in front of our Co. & rolled in
right among us. luckily they did not
burst. after dark we were relieved by
Sykes’ Div [---?] Corps. we came down the
mt. & camped in Snickersville. The next
day we marched to Ashby’s Gap & staid
two nights. two days more brought us to
the Mannassus Gap R.R. where we staid
two nights. two more short marches &
we are here. got here last night. This
is a nice old Va. Village & is or was
the residence of many F.F.Vs. The White
Sulpher Springs are but 9 miles from
here it is quite a fashionable resort.

The whole army is near here.
I don’t know much about this movement
only that it is a great one & you will
be likely to hear from before long. I reckon
we shall strike at Gordonsville if so
I think there will be three battles viz.
at the Rappahannoch, the Rapidan & at
Gordonsville. We were reviewed this
morning by Gen. McClellan & it is said
it was a farewell review. that he has
been removed. the boys all think so
& they feel downhearted & discouraged
if it is so I shall be too. I would like to have
some of our Northern men here. I could shoot
them or run them through with a
bayonet with better heart than I could
a reb. The same with Chas. Brown &
some of your other Rye people.
I should love dearly to stick my bayonet
thru him. you may tell him I said so
if you like. Why don’t you have him sent

to Fort Constitution. I feel rather broke
up don’t know what I am. If I were at home
I could not tell what I should be a Democrat
or republican. I guess neither. I believe
there ought to be a new party formed
or rather there ought to be no party till this
war is over. Greeley Sumner & the like I have
no sympathy with at all. I believe they have
done a great deal of & are trying to do all they
can.

You wanted to know if we lived well.
We do. I never got one tenth part the
Mutton & poultry at home that I get here.
It is very plenty & the finest Mutton you ever saw.
I am afraid sheep will be scarce in Va. next
year. I will tell what our Gov. rations
are. We draw three days rations at a time
then each take a piece of raw pork 30
hard tacks a little coffee & sugar. puts them
in his haversack, after we get thru a days
march & get our tents pitched pitched made
fires his sliceof porks & makes his coffee
for supper. In the morning he cooks his breakfast
& fries a little pork for dinner. This is our
bill of fare on a march. Pork & hard bread & coffee.
If we stop over one day, we grill an ox & have
one or two rations of fresh meat.
Do you wonder that stray sheep & wander-
ing flocks of turkeys stand a poor chance.
We have not been paid yet & won’t be
till we get settled down somewhere
which won’t be very soon I reckon.
I am well. The weather is quite cool now
we had over an inch of snow last Friday.
Today is very pleasant. I wish I could
have some of your apples. Write soon.
Give my love to all.