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.

We were ordered to ride south back to that little spot known to the locals as Flat Lake.  The Union army has returned to threaten this area again.  We had ridden hard all the way from Narcoossee and have just arrived at our destination.  We had little time to make camp and the danger is such that scouts and pickets were sent out immediately upon our arrival.  Men have fought and died at this place before.  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 large lake that supplied us with fish and water last year has completely dried up.  The drought down here is very bad.  We were looking forward to the fresh fish and a bath but as with most things in this war, we were disappointed once again.   We passed the infantry from the great states of Alabama and Florida.  The infantrymen had marched hard and were wearily setting up their tents.  Our cavalry company will be joined in battle by the 10th Tennessee cavalry, dismounted.  We are short on numbers and welcome their help.  We expect their arrival at any moment.  All companies are short handed due to illness.

Two sutlers have arrived already and are set up for business.  I believe that they know more about our intended movements than the Generals themselves.  One is a blacksmith named Mike and we are glad to see him.  Our company smith was killed weeks ago and we are all in need of his services.  This blacksmith is not afraid to fight because I see he has an Enfield ready for battle among his possessions.  The other sutler is the same one that was here at the last battle. If you remember from my previous letter, I told you that there is no name board on his tent so the men call him the "No Name Sutler".

General Hardy was injured in a accident involving two wagons.  He will recover but was sent to the hospital.

If we need a surgeon, Major Riker and his staff are among us.  His medical skills are unsurpassed so you need not worry for my wounds if any are received.  The Major has remained sober for quite some time now and his good reputation is returning.

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 and B, the Florida 8th Co. C and the Florida 4th Co. G and 3rd Co. A.  The Alabama Volunteers are here led by their commander whose last name no one can pronounce.  No artillery has arrived.  I must wonder where the field pieces 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.  By the way that bugler, "Root", is here.  He is beginning to get the art of bugling correct.

The rolling hills of this area are still beautiful although brown with drought.  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.

Almost before the sun rose we were in the midst of a skirmish.  The Union forces were larger than we expected.  Our numbers were almost evenly matched.  The Union men from the 3rd Maine are very well represented and make a fierce adversary.  The other Union companies were made up from 47th New York Co. K and the 75th Ohio.  The rest could not be recognized and were possibly made up of several companies.  Our pickets could not hold them and Major Kohl ordered his men into action.  The infantry organized themselves and counter attacked.  The Yankees were repelled but we knew the quiet would not last long.

As we adjusted our tack and loaded our weapons much to our amazement, we saw seventeen 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 offer to sew our uniforms, prepare our food and somehow find time to sip tea and talk.  I wish you were among them and seeing them makes being away from you all the harder.

The skirmishers sounded the alarm as the Union army swarmed over a hill and moved towards our camp.  It seemed that their only objective was to seize our colors.  The men from the 3rd Maine fought bravely against our Alabama Volunteers.  The battle spilled over into an area just feet from our tents.  My cavalry company dove into and out of combat upon our horses.  The Union was repelled for the moment but all knew that they would return.

The pickets fired off and on all day.  Each side probed their opponent.  Another battle started and 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.

As night fell the battle escalated and was fierce.  I believe this was due to the cooler temperatures and the full moon.  The flash of rifles marked each man's position and the hillside was brilliant with their flashes and the night loud with their reports.  The Union army brought out their artillery.  Until the moment of their first cannon blast, we had no previous knowledge that an artillery piece was on the field.  The infantrymen were driven back and our army was repelled.  Soon all was quiet.  So many men fell. Both sides were so badly hurt that the battle was broken off and no one army held the field.  The infantry will search for wounded under the cover of this night.  There will be no time to bury the dead.

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.  My horse Rambler has been wounded in his front foot.  He will not be fit for battle today so I have taken a horse called Soloman from the picket line.  This horse is new to this sport and I am not sure if he will go into battle.  I shall know soon.

More skirmishes erupted on this holy day but the fighting was done half-heartedly by both sides.  Many men were exhausted from the constant fighting done yesterday.

During a quiet time in the skirmishing, we had a church service presided over by Chaplin Roger.  I believe that his gift to relate the word of God would soften the hearts of our Union tormenters if they could only hear him.  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?

As expected, another skirmish had escalated into a battle.  By twelve thirty in the afternoon our cavalry company advanced into action with the comforting thought that the 10th Tennessee dismounted would watch our flanks.  We rode to our destiny.  Our horses were ridden hard trying to protect all sides of our gallant infantrymen.  The infantry took the battle to the Union forces.  As the battle raged in the light woods, we were engaged by the large Union force and had to fall back.  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 fell, 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 10:00 p.m. and all was quiet.  The new horse did reasonably well.  I think I will keep him.

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.

I have just received the best news I have heard in over a year.  I have been granted furlough.  I will be released from duty tomorrow.  I will make great haste to your side.  Will you tell our neighbors and friends?  We all must gather upon my return.  I was given permission to take Solomon and Rambler with me.  Rambler is of no use here and he can recover from battle as can I at home.  We will return together with the new horse.  Our journey will be short on horseback so look for me in about ten days or less.  I may be home before this letter but I will post it anyway.  I will be home soon.

Your Loving Husband