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Camp of 2d Mass Regt. Mass Vol.
near Stafford Court House, Va.
May 13th 1863.
Dear E.
I wrote you a short note the day after our ariveal back,
to let you know that I was all right, since then I have had a bile
on my sholder, so I could not wright with any comfort. It broke last
night, and is now quite comfortable, I will try and give you a short
and condenced acount of our excursion. On Wednesday the 29th we crossed
the Rapahanock at Kelleys Ford about 7 oclock and at
12 M our regt. were [have] out as skirmisheers. At three P.M. arived at
the Rappadan Neeleys Ford surpriseing and captureing 97 Rebs (who were
detailed from various regts to finish a bridge) with thier armes and
equipments, having one killed (a cavalry man) on our side, killing
two and wounding one on thiers, Forded the river at 2 PM. with
the watter up to our arm pits slightly damaging those Eight days
rations of Hard Tack in our Knapsacks, Bivouacked about two miles
from the river, The next morning started at nine oclock following the
plank road to Chancelorville where we arived about 4 oclock
and formed in line of battle, in the woods, Friday morning erected
brest works. and at 12 M moved forward to reconerter, skirmishing with
the enemy who apeared in force behind entrenchments about 2 miles
from our lines. at [8?] P.M. fell back inside the brest works, and lay quiet
till 12 M Saturday when orders came for our division to move forward