Camp near Harrisonburg Rockingham Co. Va
Aug the 9th 1863

Dear Wife

I take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well again and will start to the regt tomorrow which is at brandy station or therabouts. I am some 70 or 75 miles from them. I dont know where I will find them. I understand they have been fighting last week again. I am anxious to get up again.

I have been absent from the company one month & five days, which seems to me like six months. I received your letter dated July 30 and red it with pleasure, was glad to hear you was all doing well. I had rather see it than hear tell of it though.

We are expecting a big fight shortly. I promised you that I would give you some idea of our service in Penn. which I will do in short order.

On the morning of the 15th of June we left Martinsburg for Williamsport M.D., arrived at Potomac, cross over to Williamsport, call halt, push out to Hagerstown. Call no halt pass on to Greencastle Franklin Co. Penn. Find no enemy their Pann on, hear the enemy are at Chambersburg, start for that town arrive in one mile, charge the town.

Eneny left, get something to eat, stay on main street until morning the 16th. Saddle up, go hald mile and camp. Boys capturing negroes & horses. Night sleep in meadow until Morning the 17th. Got up, all quiet 11 o'clock and start back to M.D. ride until midnight. Camp in meadow, sleep until morning the l8th. Saddle up, start on the march, go 2 miles turn in good grass, stay until morning the 19th.

Remain in pasture until morning the 20th. Take up the line of march for Penn, arrive at Greencastle, make no halt, push on to Shady Grove, make no call. Push on to Wayneborough, night encampment in barn until morning the 21st finds us in Waynesborough. Plunder through town untill 10 o'clock A.M., start on the scout pass through Flickersville, capturing horses & cattle in abundance. Pass through Millerstown, pass through Waterloo midnight, encamp on road. Got up early the 22nd, start on the march, pass through Ridgeville 12 0'clock. Pass Loytersburg, overtake the Infantry moving slowly. Have a skirmish, kill two yanks, night encamp in meadow. Sleep until morning the 23rd, get up start to Chambersburg, arrive at Chambersburg, enemy left. Get dinner, stay on the street until morning the 24th, eat breakfast, all quiet. Take up the line of march, pass through Greenville 10 o'clcock P.M. Arrive at Shippersburg, halt dismount, feed horses, stay until morning the 25th. Feed horses, start on the march pass through Stowerstown, night encampment in barn until morning the 26th, Get up, raining, rapid advance 2 miles, stay in barn until morning the 27th,Get up, start on the march 1 o'clock. Arrive at Caroline, enemy left, get dinner for the Brigade, advance 3 miles, feed horses, move 2 miles further camp until morning the 28th. Take up the line of march 11 o'clock arrive at Mechanicsburg, get dinner leave for the captl. Arrive at the Capital, commence connonading the fortifications, ordered back. Ride until midnight capture horses plenty. Stop until morning the 29th, start on the march, arrive at Carlisle with horses and mules, turn them over to the Q.M. Leave town, go 2 miles stop, stay until morning the 30th, go back to Carlisle stay in town until midnight, leave, go 8 miles, stop till the morning July 1st. Start on the march, go 10 miles turn to the leftt, go 4 miles and camp till morning the 2nd. Feed horses, start on the march pass through Fayettville 10 o'clock. Pass Greenwood, arrive near Gettysburg, fighting like thunder.

Continue till 9 o'clock at night, sleep til the 3rd. Commence fighting by light, fight all day, 8 o' clock at night cease firing. Sleep until the 4th. Still firing, great slaughter on both sides. 6, o'clock PM. wagons commenced falling back arrive all night morning the 5th, still falling back. 6th arrive at Williamsport, river up, cant cross, fight until dark, enemy repulsed. Sleep till the 7th, all quiet, quiet all day, night sleep till morning the 8th. Get up raining, river rising, commence bilding boats to ferry over the wagons. Morning of the 9th all quiet quiet during the day. Morning of the 10th get up fighting in the rear & trying to cross the river in front.

Morning the 11th still fighting in the rear. 9 o'clock commence crossing the river. Cross all day and part of the night. Morning the 12th, still crossing right across on Va soil, once more thank heaven.

Thus ends the campaign in maryland & Penn. From this sketch you may draw a faint idea of our travails in Yankeedom. The pretiest country I ever seen. I will quit by saying I would like to bee at home very much, to see you all, although I may never have the opportunity. Still I live in better hopes. I have come very near being shot through the head with a miney ball & once with a shell, but I think I will come out safe yet.

I will quit writing for this time. Give my love to all the family and retain a portion for your self. Nothing more, write soon. Direct your letter to Gordonsville Va Company (A) 16th Regt Va Cavalry, Jenkens Brigade.

Yours truly

I V Reynolds