Peach Grove Va May 17th 1863Dear Mother

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I received your letter of May 10th yesterday I received the money that you sent also the pap er I was careless not to acknowlege it in my other letter We moved our camp here noon after I wrote it is on the Leesburg Turnpike and about 3 miles from Lewinsville Our picket line is on Difficult Creek the duty is not so hard as it was out of 48 hours we have to keep moun ted only 8 This is pretty near as nice a country as the Shenandoah Valley The Spring has been backward but the trees are all leaved out peac h trees have bloomed and their blossoms have fell Apple and Pear trees have leaved out and ready to blossom peach trees

blossom before they leave out Winter wheat has beaded out and grass is almost knee high in some places Moseby and his gang were surprised by our regt and the 5th Ny and cut to pieces Moseby and 9 men escaped .Moseby was badly wounded The large st part of our regt is at Warrenton Junct Head Quarters at Fairfax yet. We are pretty well acquainted around here there is scarcely a house between here and the Potomac but what I am acquainted Have the boys done the Springs work alone or have they had some one to help them if they have done it alone they have done a large springs work Where does Jim Hinkley and his wife live It was reported here last week that Richmond was taken the next day it was confirmed then we got a pap er that denied it It is believed

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here that the army of the Potomac was defeated. it was reported here last night that Vicksburg had fallen but I presume that is not true you need not buy me a wallet I have got one now I have got plenty paper and envelopes at present but am short of stamps. I dont think of any more to write now except that I am well and hope you all the same

Henry A Smith