South of the Rapidan, December 1st, 1863 Dear Wife as I had A Prospect of Staying here in this spot long

enough I thought I would start A letter For You, but when I shall get A chance to send it is more than I can tell at present. in the Firstplace I am well in the next place we have had a Devil of A Fight. I suppose you enjoyed yourself well Thanksgiving day I hope so anyhow. well Thanksgiving day the 26th we left Brandy Station and crossed the Rapidan the Same night it rained and was very muddy we crossed at Jacobs Ford. and climbed a steep Bank 2 or 3 feet high which we named Jacobs Ladder. the next Morning we moved on again, we went very slow, about noon we heard the cracking of Rifles and we knew the Enemy was near. the Country is A Complete Wilderness here only once in A while A few Acres Cleared land. we are now where the Army of the Potomac never was before. well A little past one they begun to get our Brigade in Position our Second Division had been Fighting the Rebels about two hours, and we was to releive them and let them go to the rear. the trees were very thick and we had to push through Brush and limbs for half an hour, when we got our Position in A small Hollow, now at this time two o clock, Business was getting lively there was an open Field between the rebs position and ours and they had come Across this field and the Balls flew over our heads like Bees. there was A stout rail Fence 7 feet high. Close to the edge of the woods we was in and the rebels Johnnys we call them laid behind this Fence. Plugging away at our skirmishers like the Devil we laid on our Bellys about five minutes to avoid their Balls when the order Come to rise up. I knew that we was going to have A rough time than. then Came the order Fix Bayonets charge. and away we went through the Brush and woods yelling like so many Devils. the Johnys gave us one volley from the Fence and than run as fast as their legs would let them most of the regt stopped on our side of the Fence but I and two others in our Company went over and stopped and Commenced Firing as soon as the Rebs got into their side of the Clearing in the woods they returned it. we had it hot and heavy than for an hour when we was releived by the 14th New Jersey and Fell to the rear. they stood it A while and than we went up and gave it to them until Dark when our Division was releived by the 1st Division. and so ended our part of the Fight that day we lost 78 men killed wounded and missing. 11 Killed 57 wounded and 10 missing. Elmore Whitney of , was killed, shot through the head, XXVIX, December 3rd. where do you suppose we are now, back to Brandy Station I figure. night before

last it begun to be whispered around that we were going back, our Regt was out on Picket than. we could see the rebel earthwork plain, they were the strongest kind reaching from east to west over 4 miles I couldnt beleive from the first that our Army would ever attack them and they didnt. we was getting short of rations and our Cripplys couldnt get up. at half past two o clock yesterday Morning we quietly left our Posts and started on the back track and got here clock last night having marched 29 Virginia miles in one day which are a Darned Sight longer than Vermont miles any time our regt bring on Picket didnt Come with the Corps but showed through alone the Corps didnt get in until this Morning. we have had an awfull tough time. it has been very cold the ice froze nearly an inch thick and the wind has blowed A good deal besides. it is warmer today and the sun shines pleasant. Elmore Whitney, the one that was killed has Bunked with me ever since Jim went to the Hospital. Oscar Garrett was badly wounded he tented with me William Cobb, was Color Guard, he was badly wounded this was all that was lost in our Company out their was some narrow escapes. Cook got his Foot Bruised Some by A spent Ball. Some of our wounded have since died, you will get A list of the names in some Vermont paper. the old Brigade lay about A quarter of A mile to our rear they say that they never heard such rapid Firing for the length of the line and so long kept up I Fired 19 times, some 19 some 24 some not so many and some more. we laid A mile of rebs that day our Pioneers were all night burying the dead. one of our Officers went over the ground the next Morning they dug great holes and Pitched the Johnnys in just as it happened he see A Board stuck up at one grave Marked with A pencil, forty Johnny sly here we are in hopes of getting some papers and our Mail now, we aint had any since the 25th of last Month we hear their has been big doings off West, but what, we have no Particulars. one thing on this trip I have been tough as A Bear and had enough to eat but some that was afraid of carrying rations have suffered for the want of them. I might as well write of A little tight spot I got into in the Fight, and it has made A good deal of Fun for the officers and the Boys how I got out of it. I was on A heavy 7 foot rail Fence with about 75 others of the regt A fair target for the rebs and they sent their Balls in unmercifully, I got on one knee and kept my eye Cusses and loaded. Fired as fast as Could and take aim I had a fair view and could see them in in the woods about 40 rods off their was so many behind one firing over my head I begun to get and wished myself back on the other side of the Fence. I looked around but they was so thick I couldnt get over without being in danger of getting

shot by our own Men So I contented myself where I was, and blazed away. Some one gave the order to fall back and they went back on A full run, I didnt know as they was going back until I see the Damned rebels Coming out of the woods right towards as I looked around than and our regt was going over the hill like the Devil. I sprung up on the Fence pretty darned quick than but A rail that stuck up sideways of the Fence Catched on my Knapsack and I was hung. I yanked 3 times the 4th time the rail give way and over I went on to my head and shoulder on to the ground I run my Bayonet in the ground the whole length when I struck and twisted the shank so it was spoiled. I could hear the rebs yelling like so many wildcats cClose behind all this time and the Balls flew like hail by me but thank fortune they didnt have my name on one of our Corporals see me tumble over the Fence and he asks me every little while how I like straddling the Fence. it was an almighty narrow escape but after I got up I couldnt help laughing at what A performance I had made. Somehow I tore of every button on the Front side of my Breeches and broke both suspenders in the operation. but I tied them up before Ive went up the second time. Well this sheet is most full and poorly wrote my ink is so thick it bothers me I presume our Mail will go out tomorrow and will have more than that I dont think of now.