1861 July 18 Centreville, Va.

               Centreville
July 18th 12 Oclock noon
My Dear Wife
        You wrote last tuesday
that you had not receved any
letter from me in quite a number
of days  I have written to you
three times in the same lenth
of time.  I hope to hear you have got
news before this from me
I wrote a few words about
our situation yesterday it was
written in the dark and in a
hurry.  Our forces have now
passed through Centerville
in rout to Mannasses Junction
If we have good luck we will
drive them from that place
by Saturday night we have
chased them about 20 miles
and have about caught to
them  If they do not run

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faster than we can there will
be a battle in a few hours we trust to
come out all right they have the
advantage of us in being aquainted with the
roads they left Fairfax Court House of as soon as they
knew we were coming 5 Regiments at Fairfax
5 Regiments N[?] at Germantown and quite
a number of regiments along the road
comprise the rebel forces there is
I shoud think about 15,000 altogether Our
numbers the first Division about 11,000 men
3 Batteres of Artilery among which
is Shermans U.S. Battery the Best
in the U S they have rifeled cannon
Our whole force on this side of
the river with a few exceptions are
close by us our whole force
is about 70,000 men I think they
will be in Richmond in one week
I am very well I do not think we
will leave for home before the
22 Aug Ever remembering my own Dear Sarah
I remain yurs forever Andew

[in top margin of page 2]
We saw them leave the Court House
they run as if the old boy was after
them we threw 6 rounds of cannon
at them.

MSS 15440