1862 August 23

                                                         Aug 23rd 1862
Dear Sister
                                It has been a long time since I have
written to you, Mr Bernard has so monopolized the
correspondence, that I have hardly been able to
edge in a line.  Just the time the girls came up
and ever since then, we have been in a state
of excitement and danger. At one time it was
generally believed that the great battle would
be fought between this and Orange Ct House.
Once our forces advanced, and then fell back,
they have again made an onward move
the enemy retreating and as far as we can
learn our army (the advanced portion of it) have
gone beyond Culpeper C.H. We have heard
heavy and distinct canondading this morning
before breakfast and Mr Bernard has gone
to learn all he can about it, what forces are
engaged, and, if any of our boys are hurt to
go on to the field.  he thinks it is not even
probable that the 12th is engaged the army is
all in the advance of them or that brigade.
Two or three nights ago, after we had gone to bed
there was a great knocking at the door, and
Mr B got up, and went in the dark to see
who it was, and who should it be but George
and Sidney, they had marched from Louisa
ct House to within about four miles of Orange
C.H.-where they stoped for the night,they
stole off walked to the C H --borrowed two

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horses from Dr Talliaferro[sic] and came here. I had
a big super for them (poor things they were
most starved) they had marched thirty miles
that day, had nothing hardly to eat.  I
never saw things eat as they did, filled their
haversacks and they started off about mid-
night, Sidney ate three slices of cold lamb
two of ham (I had had one of my big hams
for dinner that day and it was first
rate) 2 cups of coffee, a glass of milk, and
bread and butter in proportion.  The next
morning before breakfast I had a quarter
of lamb roasted, and a quantity of the nicest
biscuit baked, almost a whole ham, and two
gallons of buttermilk and Mr Bernard &
marion set out with it, dyrectly after bre-
akfast to carry it to them. they overtook
them about fifteen miles from her just as they
had halted to rest, Mr Bernard sent George
and Sidney off for their friends to come and
eat with them Marion said Sidney cut off
a great slice of lamb and took some biscuit
said he could not lose any time that said he
must eat while he looked them up. They
day before Garland most unexpectedly
made his appearance spent the day, I
gave him a quarter of lamb, a ham, corn and
irish potatoes. he is Gen Pryor's curior. he has
altered mightly. We have had the army around
us for nearly a month, and there was not
a day that we did not have some ten
or twelve to breakfast and dinner.  We have
had three sick soldiers staying here ever since
sunday.  they were not well enough to go on

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with the army on saturday. tell Mary they
were very nice young gentlemen, a Mr Neal
Leath, and Gallhier from Loudon.
I forgot to tell you that we ran of one, We
had a little fight at the Ct H. and were
whipped we packed up in the greatest hurry
and started off, but when we got on
the turnpike leading to Gordonsville, we
met the army coming on, and then we
turned back, since then a fight was ex-
pected near the Ct H and the Willis all
came here and a pr of the Cols fine horses
and staid two or three days--they have
a good deal of their [?] and a large
box of things here now, and I have never
unpacked, and wont until after this
battle, I dread this one more than any we
have had yet, All the army from Richmond
have come up here. I you please sister write
to me at once and tell me where you are
and all about the dear folks up there,
Whee is Sally Matthews, The folks up there
have seen nothing of the war. Oh! how I
envy them. Tell Joe his hen laid and
hatched in the ice house again, set on
thirteen eggs, and she hatched every one. I send
Joe a dollar and half for his other brood, she
raised eight, he gave Tommy & Willie each
one. I pay him for six. Give oceans of love
to dear Aunt Sukey, cousin Maria and every
body you see.  Love to Mary.  All send love.
I'll not close this 'till Mr B. returns so I may
tell you about the cannon we heard this morning.
                         Food bye your fond sister
                                                       Ann


letter of Ann Bernard continues on Aug. 25

MSS  7745