Near Sharpsburg June 19th /63 Dear Sister: As we have stopped to rest today I will seize the opportunity to write home. I wrote a short note shortly after the battle of Winchester but as I did not give you any account of our meanderings I will start at the starting place (Fredericksburg) and deal with the subject in extenso. [sic] We left camp on the 5th of June and marched by Spotsylvania C.H. to within a few miles of Orange C.H. turned off, came to Rapid Ann, forded the river to Culpepper C.H. thence to Speryville, thence towards Warrenton, turned off the Warrenton road near Washington, the County Seat of Rappahannock, crossed the Blue Ridge to Front Royal, then down the Shenandoah Valley to near Winchester, here we found the beast Milroy in a post near the town, strongly fortified. Gen. Ewell thinking the place too strong to storm without the loss of a great many lives sent over our division, Gen. JOhnston's, to the rear of W., Gen Early's down the main turnpike and Gen Rodes to Martinsburg. We spent the day getting our positions. About dark we opened on them with our artillery. [Page 2] I think it was the most beautiful sight I ever witnessed; we soon drove him from his outer works to his main post, when we stopped shelling, and awaiting morning, to develop his movements. About daybreak we found out that he would endeavor to cut through our lines in his rear towards Harper's Ferry. Gen. Johnson soon had his lines completed and ready for action nor had we long to wait as Milroy knew that success depended on the vigor of the attack. The 4th. La. and 3rd Va. brigades met the first assault, the enemy greatly outnumbering them drove them back a short distance, when Gen Johnson galloping along the line and told them the Stonewall was coming to their support and they soon rallied and in turn drove the enemy; our brigade fired very few shots. The enemy seeing the hopelessness of getting through determined to surrender, our brigade captured more prisoners than the brigade numbered. Each regiment has a stand of Yankee colors. Gen. Milroy with the cavalry escaped, owing to an opening in our lines. The fruits of the victory are immense, not a small item being 26 pieces of artillary. Gen. Ewell issued a congratulatory order to the army desiring them to return thanks [Page 3] to God with him for the victory. I think we have a very good successor to Gen Jackson. After the battle we marched to Shepardstown, crossed the Potomac, and are now lying near Sharpsburg. What will be the next move I do not know. Our camp is full of rumors today from the out side world. Grant's army, according to our accounts, is captured. I would give most any thing for a Richmond paper this morning. As it is about to rain I will close as I have no shelter to write under. Good bye Ted I sent you a piece of my Maryland arbor vitae.