My dear Wife

I was obliged to leave our quarters at the river and come back here to finish out our pay rolls - they were partly done when we left, and as we have been expecting to return every day

____ ___ them ________, but we came to the conclusion this morning when we received three days rations, that the prospect was good for our stay - at least a week from the time we left. It is a good seven miles from here to where are our location - and I walked all but about a mile, which I rode on one of the government wagons - expected to ride with our teamsters from the place where he leaves the rations (a mile and a quarter up the canal) but he left before I got there.

The road from here was directly west to the Potomac & the canal is about 30 rods this side of the river - we are on this side of the land between them which is prinicply (sic) covered with woods - although there is an open space a little below where we turn to go (south) down the river, and it is here that the rebels have done most of their firing at our picket, they have some earthworks through here and so have the Federal troops.