Camp at Bealton Station
May 9th 1863

My Dear Wife

It is with pleasure that I now
take this opportunity of writing you
a few lines to let you know that I am
yet amoung the liveing and well
it is a good while sence I wrote
to you the last I wrote was Tuesday
the 28 of April but it did not go
out so I carried it along with me
we have been on a raid we went
almost to Richmond we crossed
the river on the 29th of Apr at
Kelleys ford put wright off for the
rail road we burned bridges and tore
up the rail road a good deal
it was the hardest time I ever
see I was up and marched
four nights out of five the last night
[page 2]
I would go to sleep in spite of my
self it rained to a good deal so
that made it worse but now it
is over I am glad I went but
I think we ought to have went
into Richmond and I beleave
we could have done it and
we were all anxious to try
we recrossed the Rapahannock
river yesterday just at day break
you will hear of it by the paper
better than I can tell you I
have but little time to write
I dont know much of Hookers
fight but I expect he got whipped
I recd two letters from you and
one from Jim today I was sory
to hear the children was sick but
glad that they were getting better
take good care of them and
I guess that they will get along
all wright I cant write any
more now for we will have
to move tomorow so good bye
[page 3]
for now write soon and
I will write as offten as I
can Yours affectionately
Thos M Covert
P A Covert

I will send the letter I
wrote before we went out of
the scout