_Between Front Royal and Winchester, Va.,
June 21, 1863._
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.