Camp of the Rapidan River
Near Rackcoone Ford Va
Sept the 20 /63
My Dear Wife
I once more take the opportunity to write a fiew lines to you to let you know that I am well and that I received your letter last knight. I was verry glad to hear from you. I sent a letter Friday with 28 dollars in it. We are on the same ground yet and I guess we will stay here a while. It is a pleasent place here but water is poore and reather scarce. The rebels are fortifing on the other side. They are thick as spatter and saucey as they can be. You wanted to know what I thought about you going east this winter. I had thought of that but I thought you wouldent want to go and so I dident say eneything about it. You can do as you chose. I think you could enjoy yourself better out there and perhaps it would be cheapest. If you want to go you aught not to have waited to heard from me. Get readey and go but it will be a job to go with the children but it wont be a verry long job. Sell the pig and the cow if you can if not you will have to get someone to take care of her. You sent me 50 cents. I shal send it back. I have got money enough. I have ben speculating some yesterday and day before. I made most five dollars. I would buy fig paste for 40 cents and sell them for 80. I would get 5 boxes at a time. You sead you had 104 dollars now. I think if I have good luck we can pay 100 dollars on our place next spring. I would like to do it if we can. I have got that little pocketbook full of change. It is about as good as ever. I got a letter from Christopher Warner last weak. They are usely well. I answered it the other day. The weather was warm last weak but last knight it was cold and it is cold to day. I threw away my blanket and cept my overcoat. I slept cold last knight. I wish you had the clothes that was burned and throwed away overcoats blankets pants and shirts. If I had known we want going father than here I would cept my blanket but we all thought we were going in a fight and I knew if we did I could pick up blankets if I neaded one and it was quite warm when I threw it away and my load was verry heavey. We had quite an uproar here last knight about sunset. There was fireing commenced in our rear. It was about a mild from our camp and we were orderd in line on doubel quick. The fireing lasted about ten minuets. It sounded exzacly as it does in battle but it was a lot of cavelrymen discharging their peices. The generls knew all about it but it was done to see wich regt would get out first and prout to say it was the old 137th first. Our regt is the cenior regt in the brigade. There is none in the corps that is better drilled in the manuel of army. I would like to see you and the children. Write as often as you can. Let me know if you go east as soone as you can. If you go you had better go as soone as you can while it is warm. Buy all the clothes you need. I must close. My love to you all. Good buy.
Charles Engle to Charlotte E
I will put three dollars in this for Matie. That will make five dollars for her. It will do something towards getting her clothes. The next I send will be for the baby.