Hawkinstown March 30th /62 Dear Sister: We have at last stopped long enough to take a breath and I take this opportunity to let you know my whereabouts. (On Monday) After the fight we came as far as Strasburg, staid until evening then came to Woodstock, staid all night and on Tuesday morning came to this place where we arrived about eight. The next morning went back towards Woodstock, and staid all night out doors within four miles of the enemy. The next morning came back to this place where we have been ever since. Although we had to retreat we gave the enemy rather more than they bargained for. They acknowledge a loss of 2000 killed and wounded, whereas our loss at the fartherest 500 in killed and wounded and taken prisoners. The citizens of Winchester cheered our prisoners, or rather their prisoners, as they went through the town, they also buried our dead, taking a description of each one and marking their grave, and they say our dead amounted to eighty while the graves of the Yankees covered the ground thick. We have heard from Capt. Morrison and Lieut. Lyle; they have been sent on to Baltimore together with the rest. The object of Gen. Jackson's attack was to keep the enemy engaged here so as to keep them from reinforcing the army on the Potomac. I would not be surprised if we crossed over the mountain and reinforced Gen. Johnston at any time. Something of great importance is certainly going on, what I can not tell. There is a daily line of couriers [Page 2] between Gen. Johnston and Gen. Jackson. Gen. Johnston has cut his army off completely from the world; he does not allow soldiers returning to camp to enter his lines and no one goes out. Some citizens who went down to see their friends cannot get home. What is going on no one can tell but time will clear it up so there is no use in conjecturing. I saw cousin John today, or rather Maj. Barclay of the 8th. Va. Melish. He was very well but greatly concerned about the health of his men as they had to sleep out in the rain last night; he will soon get over that though. They have mustered them in for the war, exactly what should have been done six months ago, but I am opposed to filling up the companies with them as we will have to take about fifty or more. Our men who have been home have most all returned and the company looks rather better than it did a day or so after the fight. I have taken Watsons baggage and will send it home as soon as possible, except his blankets which I will take charge of as I have only two. Ledgerwood Moffat came down yesterday to join the artillery, I have been trying to get him to join our company but he says too many are killed and taken to suit him. Capt. White saw Gen. Jackson before he left about our company. The General said he was very sorry that we had lost so many men and said he would favor the company. I wish he would hurry up and give us horses as I am tired of this foot business. Good bye Ted [In the top margin of Page 1] I will write whenever I have an opportunity, but you need not look for letters often. I had to buy a complete fitout in under clothes as I left all mine in Winchester to wash. We have not been paid off yet and cannot tell when we will. I think the Confederacy is rather short of money just now. [In the right margin of Page 1] I have directed my letter to mother and written to you but it is all the same in Dutch. [In the left margin of Page 2] There is no use of your writing as there is no mail between Staunton and this place. I have not heard from home [In the top margin of Page 2] in about a month except the letter Dave Ruff brought, Excuse blots and back writing. Ted I will send this by John _____.