1862 December 22 [Morris?] Mount on the Rappahannock

                                      [Morris?] Mount  on the
                            Rappahannock Dec 22nd 1862

Dear Aunt
          Your letter by the hands of Mr Dorrier reached
me yesterday  I am truly sorry to hear of Sallies illness
and hope she may soon recover,  I have been so
closely confined for the past month  I have not
been able to see any of my acquaintances in this
neighbourhood consequently have not seen
John L and have only heard from him
through the papers. I believe he is quite well.
I am still, with my two pieces, vapouring along
the Banks of this the crookedest of streams, (as
I have been for the last month) seeking some
villainous Gun Boat to devour, I am now
on the farm of Mr Cpoulter, who is in the Army
having taken his family off.  I am now occu-
pying his dwelling and have very comfor
table quarters, but I doubt whether it will
d me any good as I may move at any
moment, and have to fall back to my old
Tent.  Every thing is perfectly quiet in this
neighbourhood. No Boats, No Yanks, we occa
sionally get sight of a Picket, which is the
only thing to disturb the quiet of the scene.
On the opposite bank of the river, Mr Burnside
I think like all of his predecessors, has run
his race, and will now retire to private life
to curse the rebels & ruminate on the  roughness
of the road non his march on to Richmond
We are making every preparation to give
his successor a most hostile reception if
he should again attempt the crossing of

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the Rappahannock, entrenching and fortifying
the hills from Fredericksburg to Port Royall
a distance of about 15 miles.
   You have had through the papers full
particulars of the fight I can give you
nothing much as they are source through which
I get most  most[sic] of my information.  One of
their Pickets crossed the river the other day
to have a little social chat with some
of our boys, he acknowledged it to be the
most thorough defeat of the War.  After
exchanging some Sugar & Coffee for Tobacco
he returned to his post on the opposite
side of the river.  I wrote you a short
note by Archer the other day, hope he has
reached home safely, tell him to be certain
to him himself and hurry back as
I am much in want of his services.
  I regret I cannot be able to spend a few
days with you this Christmas.  I expect to have
a very dull time of it here, as I can see no
prospect for a [spree?] as yet, I cannot tell when
I will be in a place where I can get the box
you desire to send. Can only thank you for your
kind intentions & imagine myself I have
everything you desire to have as set down
to my  Beef & bread  I wrote Miss W. a letter
by A. Tell her I am still improving, but do not
expect to marry before spring. Mr Dorrier gave
me full particulars of Miss Jennies marriage &
trip to Richmond.  Will write to her although
she did not write me as she promised
Love to all  Yours most truly  Dick

Charles Richard Phelps of the Beauregard Rifles

MSS 2920