Camped near Fredericksburg, Va. June 24th 1862 Dear Brother I will improve the opertunity which I now have to write you a few lines. We have been on the March so much for three or four weeks past, that I have not had much time to write, but I have calculated to keep all the Letters I rec. answered, and supposed I had, but Hellen tells me that you wondered why I did not answer your letter. I keep a record of all the letters that I rec. and answer, when rec. and when answered, and by that record the last letter I rec. from you was Apr 30th and I answered it the 4th of ______________________________ 2 May. I always intend to answer a letter the first opertunity I have after reciving it. I keep this record so I may know when I have answered a letter and to know how many I rec., and write. I rec a Pictorial from you the other day, and am very much obliged to you for it. it was a very interesting Paper. I took much pleasure in looking at the Pictures and reading it. Since I wrote to you last we have been up to the Bull Run Mts. We were ordered up that way to help bag Old Jackson, but it was just like all the rest of our (McDowells) Moves, always one or two days behind hand. We were to March to Front Roial, but _______________________________ 3 when we got on the other side of the Mts. we were ordered to halt for Orders. The Infantry had all taken the Cares at Catlett Station and gone on a head. We waited there from 9 or 10 in the AM. till 4½ OClock PM. and then the Infantry came back. The Old Rebel had escaped. We were provoked enough. We were then ordered back to Hay Market, from where we started in the Morning. We stoped there two or three days and then were Ordered to Warrenton a distance of 12 Miles. it was Friday we Mar -ched there. We stoped there till Sunday Noon and then were Ordered to Elk Creek, ______________________________ 4 a distance of some 15 or 17 Miles from Warrenton (and 5 miles this side of Catlett Station) where we arived the next day about 10 AM. We stoped there most a week and were Ordered back to this place. We got here a week a go last Sunday how long we shall stop here I can not tell. There is some talk of our going to reinforce McClellan. I dont know whether we Shall or not. We most all would like it very much. I can tell you no war news, for you get it long before I do. it looks now as though the Rebelion must be nearly crushed. Richmond must soon be ours, and that will put an end to fighting on a large Scale or nearly so. We had a very severe Thunder Shower here yestarday, and the Rappahannock River rose so that it caried off the Rail Road Bridge which makes the Second time it has been caried off since our Forces built it, and it also broke the Ponton Bridge. my health is very good and I enjoy my self as well as could be expected concidering how far I am away from those I love. Give my love to all. Write often and may God bless you, your Brother T C Cheney