Camp near Hagerstown Md.
July 11th/63
Dear Wife,

     Yours of the 25th of June came to hand three days ago, & I ought to have answered directly, but you may imagine how we are situated here, & that there is no regular mail; am glad to hear that you were all well, & the news seemed more welcome as we are so much farther apart. We are now camped (just stopped) about midway between Hagerstown & Williamsport, it being six miles from the former to the latter place

We've had no regular camp since we've been in Md. & Pa., and have had but very little rest we are all tired out, & rest now is one thing needful. I suppose you've heard of the fight near Gettysburg; our division was in it the second day, & fought the enemy in their breastworks on top of a hill; we were all in it, & our Brigade was in twice from about 4 o'clock A.M. till eleven, when we withdrew, and came back about 1 o'clock, staying until about 10 o'clock when we moved out, though the fight had been over several hours. I cant give you any particulars of the fight, except as to our Regt. which

was not heavy, neither was there a heavy loss in the Brigade; our Captain (Eastham) [i.e., Captain George C. Eastham, Company I, 33rd Virginia Infantry] was killed the evening before the fight while we were lying in line of battle, & during the skirmishing we suppose he was killed with a ball (overshot) coming from the skirmishers on the other side the ball entered the head above the ear, & came out about the top. he was not heard to say anything after being shot. H. Brown [i.e., Private Henry T. Brown, Company I, 33rd Virginia Infantry] was wounded, and the only one that was not taken off the field, whether he was killed, or taken prisoner afterwards we have not yet heard there were some seven others of our Comp. wounded, but they are all said to be across the river, & I suppose on their way

Sabbath morning July 12th

Dear M; I have just arisen from a pleasant sleep that I had last night & after thanking God for his goodness in preserving us, and permitting us to enjoy it, I am now finishing my letter that I commenced on yesterday - This is a cloudy morning & it threatened ran all night

though it still looks something like clearing off. Forgot to tell you that we have been in line of battle since yesterday 10 o'clock, & yesterday our men threw up breastworks of rails & rocks all afternoon & we now have a very good place to get behind if the enemy should attack us here - which no one thinks probable, but the work may prevent a fight & in that way do great good - God grant it! The reason we have stopped so close to the river is - that there is no way to cross yet, though they are fixing a bridge now of boats which will be done in a day or two