Camp near Gordonville July 28th 1862

Dear Brother

I seat myself once more for the purpose of dropping you a few lines to let you know that I am still on the land of the living and enjoying a reasonable portion of health and I hope when these few uninteresting lines reach you, they may find you enjoying the same good blessing.

I have nothing of interest to write of past more than that which you have heard before this time. Our Company is in tolerable good health at this time. That is, all that is present, we have seven men at the hospital. We are now encamped on the Gordonsville and Newmarket Turnpike, with about 10 miles of Orange Court House. We have been here for one week, 4 days, it is the best rest that we have had since the 1st of May, but I don't know how long we will get to stay here. We have to drill three times a day, Company drill from five until six and from nine o'clock to ten in the mrning and battalion drill from five till six in the evening. The drilling is

on hands and be ready to march at a moments warning, but before we got our rations cooked, we was ordered to march in the direction on Orange Court House. The division that we belong to marched in the same direction that we did while General Ewell's Division and several battery

the Yankees had started for Gordonsville we was marched across the country towards the court house, so as to get in their rear while General Ewell attached them in the front, by so doing we could have bagged the hole party, but they was a little too smart for us, they got scared and went back. After marching a distance of about six miles, we was about felled and marched back to camp through a very hard rain. We got back to camp about dark, all was very tired and ringing wet. We cooked and ate our suppers and lay down on the wet ground and slept as sound as if we were in feathers up to our chins. We woke up in the morning and all was right and we have been in camp ever since and I hope that we will get to stay here and rest a good while for God knows we need it. We are encamped in a beautiful country, corn looks finely, there are plenty of apples and berrys close to us and we have apple dumplings and berry pies until we can't rest. I have that peace will be made shortly so we can all return to our homes and enjoy the comforts of life once more. As I have nothing of interest to write, I will close for the present, hoping to hear from you soon, so nothing more at present but still remain your brother until death.

Wm. Blackwell

P.S. Write to me soon and let me know how you all are getting along.