We are in the Valley
of Virginia again and are now within ten miles of Winchester. You cannot
imagine how delighted the Valley people are at our appearance. The ladies wave
their handkerchiefs from every little farmhouse we pass and cheer us onward.
Such sights are
enough to make anyone feel enthusiastic. As we marched through Front Royal this
morning the people were in ecstasies and our bands played lively airs for them,
although it is Sunday.
In coming from Fredericksburg
here we have taken a much shorter route than the one we took in going from here
to that place last fall. Since we left Fredericksburg last week we have not
traveled more than one hundred miles, but we traveled 175 miles by the other
route. We camped on the top of the mountains last night. The night before we
did not go into camp until about ten o'clock, and then it began to rain
furiously. We were in an open grass field and so we had to stand up and take
it. It was a very heavy rain and the night was the worst I ever experienced. I
sat up the entire night on a rock and kept dry with an oilcloth. Few men were
so fortunate as to have so good a place to sit on as a rock. I am willing to
endure almost anything, or to be deprived of almost everything, if we can have
the pleasure of getting into Pennsylvania and letting the Yankees feel what it
is to be invaded. Our army is very large now, and if we get into Maryland or
Pennsylvania and Hooker engages us you may be certain that he will be severely
whipped. General Lee and his army are bent on it. Our troops are in fine health
and I have never before seen them get along half so well on a march. Not a man
has given out since the rain. I believe they will fight better than they have
ever done, if such a thing could be possible. I feel fine and have stood the
march admirably. We have had plenty of meat and bread to eat since we started,
and I got some good rich milk this morning at Front Royal.
From where I am
writing this letter I can look around me and see one of the most beautiful and fertile
countries. I do wish you could see it. My servant has gone to a farmhouse, and
he stays so long that I believe he is having something cooked.
I shall write to you
as often as I can; so goodby[e] to you and George.
