Camp 106 NY Brandy Sta Va
Feb 14 1863 [actually 1864]
Dear Mother:
We
have had some excitement during the past week. Last Friday at 4 AM we received
orders to be ready to march at 7. So all packed up in a hurry no one knowing
whether forward or backward we were to go. All day the booming of distant cannon
was very distinct and at 5 PM we received orders to “Fall in” the noise of a
distant battle was very distinct and the sight of the different colums winding
across the fields was rather warlike, we arrived at Culpepper about dark and
marched forward in the mud and rain till about midnight, when we halted thru
ourselves down on rubbers and rested for the morrows battle. Dawn again started
us forward and came to a halt about a mile from the Rapidan. Rested here all day
and just at dusk fell in to go back. this was the hardest march we ever made
about 15 miles, mud to the knees, well by noon the next day all were in camp and
Tuesday started for pickett lost our way travelled about 20 miles staid out
three days and are again home. OK. The result of the fighting was about give and
take, our men charged thro’ the river up to the chin, and a great many were
drowned but the accounts are so exagerated that we have to consult our papers
for the fact’s, the 3rd Corps were not engaged. But the old boy’s laugh
about it and have given to Maj Gen Sedgewick the facticious nickname of
“Jhonny Stick in the mud” as they said when we came back from Mine Run that
that was the “soft bread retreat” Yours of the 5th with. Julias and
the pictures of Judge P and lady came duly to hand.
I
am very glad of the pictures as they look homelike and are so natural the papers
come regularly to hand and are carefully read by myself as well as others. I
suppose Uncle B is in 0 by this time I am sorry he could not come down to see
the Army of the P. as I am sure he would not regret it.
I
have not as yet seen Mrs Capt H, but Capt Robertson of 0, 106th Cleveland
QMSergeant, AMWilson of Depeyster and Wells of Lisbon are now in camp.
We had a white glove parade last night, to lionize some ladies visiting Col Smith Brig Cmdnt’ they thot it would be a pity for bullets to come amongst so nice a Regt’ but I expect they will before long Excuse this and attribute it to a scratching pen
Yours truly
CWShepard
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