My Dearest Wife,

You are the first and last thoughts on my mind each day. I love you and miss you more than one can understand.

It rained lightly but not enough to stop our push North to a little spot known to the locals as Flat Lake. This place is familiar. We have fought and died here three times already. To what degree have we insulted the Lord our God that he would demand yet another day of death on this, the same battlefield. Or perhaps yet another conflict has been sent forth from Satan himself.

The lake is large but not deep and is perfectly calm. We passed the infantry from the great state of Alabama. The 37th Co. H and D and the 15th Co. B. They were bathing in the cool water. They had marched hard and all looked as if they desperately needed a good cleansing. Others were fishing for a fresh meal and we talked of doing the same after tending our horses. Our Sergeant, of whom I wrote about in my last letter, is still missing. No one knows of his fate but we pray for his safe return. I have heard that General Hardy was dispatched home to deal with family illness; however, I did catch a glimpse of him. Captain Lodge is ill and in the hospital. He should recover. This war is disease riddled and one can only hope to stay well.

Somehow a sutler has found his way here and is set up for business. I believe that they know more about our intended movements than the Generals themselves. There is no name board on his tent so the men have taken to calling him the "No Name Sutler".

After a moment to look around, I found we are well represented in this small town. Along with the others I have spoken of, I saw men from the Florida 7th Co. F, the Florida 4th Co. G and 3rd Co. A. There are also a lot of Milton Light and other artillery men here but I have seen no cannons. I must wonder where they are and hope for their support should things turn against us. Rumors are flying all about the camp. Some say that the Union forces are close.

Our Lt. Coker rode his horse out to meet with the overall officer in command who is, I believe to be Captain Kohl. I hear he is a fair and brave man and I will have no reservations of fighting along with his infantry.

If we need a surgeon, Major Riker is among us. His medical skills are unsurpassed so you need not worry for my wounds if any are received. I know the man and the talk of his drinking is untrue.

This morning dawned with fog but I could make out the details of rolling green hills to our East and South. There is a lightly wooded area to the North. This is where the Great Army of the Republic will attack from if they are there. I see that the farm to our Southwest still stands. What a pity to ruin such a place with the horrors of war.

Time to go to colors. The horses are restless and men are moving about. I will continue in a moment...Some bad news. As we rode out to assemble for colors this morning, I noticed that there were some artillery men who had fallen in with the infantry. I soon learned that their cannons had been captured in a town Northeast of here called Winter Garden. These men were able to escape and come to us with the news. We knew the Yankees were close but did not realize that they were only five miles away and moving to us. We continued on our way and much to our amazement we saw a dozen finely dressed women going to the farm house I told you about. What courageous women they are. With the threat of battle at the doorstep, they sew our uniforms, prepare our food and then find time to sip tea and talk. I wish you were among them and seeing them makes being away from you all the harder.

We were only a few moments into our ceremony when a Union company came over the hill behind us. Our pickets could not hold them and our lieutenant ordered us into action. The horses bolted to the fight and we were able to keep them at bay long enough for the infantry to organize and counter attack. The Yankees were repelled but we knew the quiet would not last long. As expected, a skirmish had escalated into a battle. Our horses were ridden hard trying to protect all sides of our gallant infantrymen. We were cut off for a time between a field fence and a small pond and for a moment it looked as if we would have to swim across it to attain safety. Fortunately we did not. The infantry took the battle to the Union forces. I saw some Union men from the 3rd Maine. The other Union men could not be recognized and were possibly made up of several companies.

As the battle raged in the light woods, we were engaged by the 2nd Florida Union Cavalry. What a surprise that was. We did not expect them to be there. We fought back and forth through the woods with them for quite a long time with no one gaining a significant advantage. The cavalry horses on both sides were exhausted and both companies broke off to rest their mounts and reload. The infantry battle was relentless and went on for hours. Many brave men fell on both sides but the battle itself would not die. Infantry men ran for more powder and caps as we feverously reloaded our own weapons. As a very dark night feel along with a moderate rain the cavalry of both sides took to the field to try and support the still fighting infantrymen. Finally as exhaustion set in, the Union and Confederate sides reached a stalemate at about 11:30 p.m. and all was quiet.

Much to our surprise, we saw our Sergeant Crenshaw riding into camp through the morning fog. We are relieved at his safe return. He told us of the battle in Winter Garden, the loss of the artillery pieces and his narrow escape. He told of an ambush and how most men and all cannons were captured.

The infantry is up and about their business and we try to spend some time with our brothers of our great Confederacy, but we must prepare for an impending battle.

We had a brief church service presided over by Private Busby and Major Riker as we have no formal chaplain. It is odd that the North and South pray to the same God for victory. Why are we so bold as to ask his favor to kill one another?

Just after the services, our pickets sounded the alarm and we were off to battle again. Things were not going in our favor. The Union army is relentless. They must never rest. The battle raged back and forth several times throughout the day. Even at the slowest point, there were shots fired from both sides without a minute between them.

The battle picked up after a quick lunch and wavered from one hill to another, from open ground to woods. The Union infantry was pushed back into a valley but somehow those gallant men came back and were giving us a beating when Captain Kohl rallied the troops and pushed ahead. So many men fell. Both sides were so badly hurt that the battle was broken off and no one army held the field.

My sweet wife, it seems such a waste of gallant men on rich Southern soil. I pray for the day when this war will end and I may return to you and our home. It can’t last much longer. It has already been three years and we grow weary. This bloodshed will end soon with a victory for the Confederate States and our lives will return to normal.

Your Loving Husband