Save this [1863]
Critendens Mills Va
Oct 10th
Diana
As I have lisure to day
I thought to write you. Although I
have not Received any answer to my
last which was writen at Culpeper
about the 19th or 20 of last month
the last I Received from yours
was dated the 15 of Sept. I have not
writen a letter since the 29th to any
person, as I did not Receive any
and had writen so many I determined
to not write untill I got one
But as the mail has been captured
once to my knowledge. I thought it
might not be your folt. Our mail
was captured within 2 miles of our
camp by some bush whackers this
was done on the 5th if I mistaken of
Since I wrote to you last our
[page 2]
duty has been nothing but Picket we
Recrossed the Rappohamock above
Kelleys ford and followed the
Orange and Alexandria R.R.
down to Warrenton Junction
where we done Picket and Guard
duty about a week wer Relieved
by a Brigade of the 6th A.C. just
at dark one evening, we marched
untill midnight and Reached
Elkten where we encamped
untill morning when we
Recumed our March untill
we arrived at our Present incam-
-pment “Critends Mills,, from this
camp we go to the Rapidan (10 miles)
to do Picket duty. We are near the
Eagle Gold mines, several large
Quartz Mills near by. Gold was dug
here and in paying quantities up
to the the first Bull Run
Battle this is a Poor country the lands
worn out hundreds of years ago
[page 3]
and it has grown up with small pine
brush.
Elijah Champlin has deserted
again this time to the enemy with his
horse and a mule he was [????] with
all of his Officers things Packed on it
he kneeds shooting and will be very apt
to get it when they get him the next
time
Some excitement in our Regt.
now about Reenlisting the termes
are (as near as I can learn) as follows
When the Regt has served 2 years if
the majority of the men will Reenlist
for 3 years longer they Receive their
$100 Bounty for the two years served
and $40 Bounty for Reenlisting and
30 dayes furlough, And a probability of
the Regt Returning to the state to
Recruit the Regt. Judging from the
Present Appearance most of the Regt
will Reenlist I think
[page 4]
Wolf River Shoals Va. Oct. 17th
after a long delay I
once more have a chance to
write and send out my letter
which I commensed on the 10th
have had some harde fighting
on the Retreat Our Regt has
suffard considerable I am still
with the [??????????] But a little
unwell to day hope to be better
soon a grand fight is to come
off here soon Mead is all
ready for them as soon as
they attack him I Received
your letter of the 4th yestarday
the first I have had from
you for a month you must
excuse this short letter as I have
to be [????????] as some of
our boys are going to Washington
by which I can send my letter
so good by if I survive this
fight you must look for
a good long letter
Bine