August the 14th VA neare gordensvill 1862
dier wife I recd your leter the 13 & was glad
to here from you all & to here that you are
all well and doing well as you could ex pect this
leavs me well as common thos badley wered
the Rest of the boys is all wp tho they are
all comlaining Bardin is gon to the horse
ittle he want verry bad of when he left
us but we had orders to march and he
coulten kep up and so the Capt sent him
& I hante hern from him sense we haf bin
in one battle tho we want engaged untel [1]
the yankey retreated then we went out on
picket and lay on line of battle all night &
we through some bums at them & they through
some at us but none of our company got hurt
we helt the battle field 2 days & then we
Re treted back 15 miles but we dont now
jacksons plan they say that is his way he
dos ever battle he fougt we held a rite smart
of the enemy & took prisoners I suppose 1100
or more I hante never hern ner I dont now how
many of ourn is lost tho not more than one
[page 2]
third as many as they did we fought a
bout 3 hours or more last saturday evning &
gon back a little after sunset I could rit
you a rite smart but I hant got roome we
are march back to words gordens ville but
we ainte station yet ner I dont now when
we shal bee for we trael day & night nere
a boute and when we stop we quite down like
hogs & slepe and our faire is bad we dont
get more than half enough to eat & that is
crakers & some meat but dont have tim
to cook it hardley ever but I dont want
you to greve a bout me for I hope the lord
wil provid some way for me & you all so
as we may see one another one more time I
want to se you mighty bad but I dont
now when I shal for I am a long ways
from you tel Fanny to do the best she
can for you all & if I ever come back I
hope it wont be forgot so nothing mor
I want you to rite to me as offen as you can
& I will do the same but I have a bad chance
I remain your loving hus band Austin Brown