1862 August 15 Orange County, VA.

                                Orange Co. Ho. Va.
                                Hd Qrs Cav. Brigade
Dear Sister.
        I received our last letter just ten days
ago and have not had time until now to answer it
as we were then away from camp and have only spent
one night in camp since.--On this day week we left Orange
Co. Ho. and took up our line of march across the
river twords Culpeper whilst our regiment was march
ing along we were fired into by some yankey cavalry we
received the order to "charge them" which we did with
a vim for about six miles killing fifteen and taking
eighteen or twenty prisoners.  I shot one of the scoundrels
that I know of and probably one or two more I had
a very narrow escape--as I was riding along at a full
run holding my pistol up before me I received a pistol
shot on y pistol if it had not struck the pistol
it would not have been very good for putting my
"chunk out" as it would have hit me full in the
the[sic] face, we lost but one horse he was rundown and
died in a few hours, it was very hard on all our
hourses, our enemy proved to be a portion of the first
Maryland Cavalry who were out on a scouting
expedition we saw them within two miles of Mad-
ison Co. Ho. where there were six regiments of them.  We
then turned back up and took up our former course of
march that night we slept on the enemys camp

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ground eight miles this side of Culpeper Co. Ho. the
next morning we were drawn up in 'line' of battle
and remained so all day (which was the day of the
fight at Slaughters Mountain) waiting to be called
upon which we were luckily we were not about 12
oclock the cannonading commenced an[d] lasted all
that day and until eleven oclock at night at
times it was terrific, the next morning a little before
day we started across the battlefield to go on picket
and it was sickening to hear the groans of the wound
ded and dying and see the dark forms and pale faces
of the dead, as they fairly glittered in the moonshine
We often having to [?] up our horses to keep from
riding over them, about sunrise we were taken from
our posts and went on a scout with Genl J.E.B.
Stewart who came up expressly for the fight.
We did nothing however but capture 7 straggling
yankeys at a house getting their dinner we then
came back and took our old posts where we
remained for three days with nothing but roasting
ears for ourselves and a little hay for our hor-
ses to eat, on the morning of the third day the
enemies cavalry appeared in sight in large num
bers, but "Stonewall" had given them the slip
and was with all his army, excepting our bri-
gade of cavalry back again on this side of the
river all we had to do was to fall back on

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regiment and then cross the river in a hurry or
in camp parlance "skedaddle", I did not leave
my post more than five minutes before it was
occupied by the advance of the enemys army
I was very near being caught.--We will have
some stirring times in a few days as we have
just received orders to draw and cook six days
rations by tomorrow morning Jackson Lee  and
Longstreet are all here with a very large force
I should think at least 100000 men. --the
yankeys are in large force in the direction
of Liberty Mills about eighteen miles from here
Now is the time for all to come up to the
mark, it is our contrys hour of need we will either
loose all that we have gained or gain as
much more in the impending campaign, let
every man face the music and stand up to
his duty determined to do or die, may God in
his wisdom protect and prosper our arms.
Dr Plaster formerly our first Lieutennant
and who was taken by the yankeys on the
Manassas retreat, has just returned having
been exchanged, he tells me that father was
in jail in the old capitol when he went there
but was released in a few days he was then
quite well but very much worried, a mem
ber of our company who is on detached ser-

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vice with Genl Stewart and who was up here with
him a few days ago tells me that R[?] R[?]
Stewarts great scout took dinner at Ossian
Hall about ten days ago and that they were all well
I should like to see him and have a talk
with him, but it is a great comfort to me to
know that much, the same man tells me that
he can send and bring letters for me at most any
time I am going to write one and if he succeeds
in doing so I will let you know. Give my kind
est love to every member of both the families,
tell Cousin Sarah that I have been intending
to write for a long time but have not yet had
an opportunity to do so but will try soon, thank
cousin John for his kind wishes and tell him
that I should like to be at Fighting Creek again
we often go for 36 and 48 hours with nothing
to ourselves and horses to eat, give my love to
Miss Ellen and Miss Joe and Mrs Blair, and re-
member me to all who inquire for me.--You ask
who will be my Captain now I suppose that our
2d Lieut Bruce Gibson will be, but we are trying
to make other arrangements. Lt. Col Dulany is a
great deal better and is able to get about on
crutches-If cousin Willy is still at Dykeland ask
him if he ever received the check which I sent
him.  I can hardly tell you how to direct your letter

[top margin of page 1]
but try in this way Co "H" 6th Va Cav
Robertson's Brigade Orange Co Ho
Army of the Valley
Is Genl Johnston still at Amelia
Springs.  Write soon and believe me yrs
                                      F. A. D.

[upside down in top margin of page 4]
We are seeing very hard service present
Billiards is very well

Francis Asbury Dickins, Jr. (Frank), 1841-1890.
His father Francis Asbury Dickins, 1804-1901, a Fairfax County, Va.. planter, lawyer in Washington, D. C. and agent for the U.S. War and Treasury Depts., was arrested more than once in the Civil War for his Confederate sympathies.

MSS 5533-d