Camp of 12th. Vt. Vol. M.Bristol Station, Va.May 18th. 1863My Dear Wife:

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Your letter written Thursday the 14th. & Laura's of the same date was rec'd today as I got off the cars at this place. You have probably before this rec'd several letters that I have written you since May 3d. some directed to Charlestown & some to Bradford. I wish you would tell me what letters you do receive. I write a good many but I dont know whether you every received them or not for you never tell me what ones you do receive. You should always, in all your correspondence, acknowledge the receipt of letters. I wish you would be particular.

If you have rec'd my letters you know before this that we have been to Rappahannock Bridge & you will see by this that we are not there. We are now twenty-five miles this side of the river & only eight from Union Mills. Yesterday afternoon the enemy posted infantry pickets on the opposite side of the Rappahannock in sight

of our pickets & within easy rifle shot of them. They also showed forces of cavalry in various directions. Our boys were on their muscle at once. We doubled our pickets & I rode up to Genl. Greig's head quarters, a distance of six miles to see if we could not get some cavalry to help us. He sent out a company to patrol up the river & also a picket to relieve ours. I went out with the picket about nine o'clk to post them & to notify our picket to withdraw at day break. The post was about two miles from camp & the night rather dark so that I had no trouble. I rode down to the waters edge on one side of the river & the reb. pickets were on the other. Capt. Paul's company was at the bridge & as we wanted to withdraw it so as to make no trouble & not expose it we sent down a waggon to draw away his baggage. The rebel pickets hearing the waggon supposed we were moving up a piece of artillery & hastily put out their fires.

We left camp this morning without any trouble & reached this place about one o'clk this P. M. There are five companies here. Maj. Kingsley is still at Catletts with Cos. G & K. - that is Capt. Ormsbee's & Capt. Staley's - Cos. H. E. & B. - that is Capt. Chamberlin, Capt

Gilbert & Capt. Paul, are at Manassas Junction. I was to have gone there but the Col. is going into Washington tomorrow & he wishes me to stay here. Ours is the only regt. this side of Bull Run. The 15th. is now at Union Mills. We were in a very exposed place at the Rappahannock & could have had no help had we been attacked. I think we are safer here.

We have a good camping ground. It is a little cool this evening but I have no stove up. I can stand a little cold without hurting me. Mr. Peach has his quarters in an old house, with the sides torn off so that the wind has a free circulation. The plastering is ornamented with various charcoal sketches, in which the different aspects of female loveliness are displayed in as great a variety of postures as the imagination of the different artists were able to conceive, relieved with a few male figures, that to say the least, are not modest in their intercourse with the charcoal beauties. We made quite a dinner-supper of salt pork & potatoes & eggs about four o'clk. Then Col. Blunt & I rode around the encampment to see about posting the pickets. We rode up to the cavalry camp, about a mile & a half from here, & there found some of the Vermont boys, - Dr. Edson, Lt. Col. Preston & others. Col. Sawyer

is back at Fairfax Ct. House. I also saw Col. Mann of the 7th Mich Cavalry, who went out with me a week ago as I wrote you. Well we are all well & enjoying ourselves first rate. Quite a number of the boys have returned to the regt. Nelson is perfectly well & my health is still as good as ever.

Seymour Brown wrote me a letter saying that "Jenny" is dead. She died the first Sunday in this month of "bots". I suppose nothing could have helped it, & it seems almost like loosing one of the family. You & Laura will miss her as much or more than I shall. I am sorry indeed but I suppose it cannot be helped.

You must go up & see Wallace & he & his wife will probably drive down to see you.

Remember me to them all. Love to Laura & tell her that I will write her next. Write often & let me know all about things at home. Love to Mac.

I have already written that I think you had better take the Daily Journal regularly. How is Mrs. Chamberlin & family? I am sorry you have such neighbors. If they were with the army I think they would find constant employment, at least judging from my own feelings. I recd a letter from Charlie Harding tonight. Tell him I will reply soon

Yours ardentlyRos.

P. S. Why cant you weigh as much as Ruth? Drink porter.

Nelson sends love.