Dear Parents,

I take this opportunity to write you a few lines to let you know that I am alive and well.  We are now lying about half way between Bealeton Station and Warrenton, near Meade’s headquarters.    We joined the Reserve Artillery again.  We shall probably stay here some time.  We left the camp when I wrote my last letter on the 1st of August.

At one o’clock in the morning, the whole of Buford’s force, consisting of three brigades, marched to Rappahannock Station.  We lay there till about noon behind the hill.  One brigade of infantry of the First Corps was here.  A battery was in position on the hill.  About 10 o’clock, a squadron of calvary dismounted and went down the the bank and fired a few shots at the Rebel pickets, which made them skedaddle.  The engineers laid down a pontoon bridge.  The calvary then moved across and moved on toward Culpeper.

We went about 2 miles when we met the enemy in force on a ridge in a very good position. We came in battery about 2000 yards and fired a few rounds.  When we moved at the double quick to within 300 yards of the Rebel battery, they had direct range of our battery but did us no damage.  Our calvary pressed them hard and they were obliged to retreat.  Our calvary followed them fast.   We came in battery on the same hill they had occupied and fired a few shots.  We then moved forward on the gallop to another position.  We got in position in time to see our calvary charge on the Rebel battery.  The regular brigade made the charge.  The Rebel battery was strongly supported.  The Rebels fired canister and our men were obliged to fall back.  The whole force now moved forward and the Rebels fell back till within about 2 miles of Culpeper. 

Then we came upon the main body of the Rebels.  Our calvary made another charge on the battery but there was a creek to cross and a high fence behind.  This was the battery and our men had to go through a gate before they could get to the Rebs.  They had a desperate hand to hand conflict. Our men drove them several times.  Their infantry advanced and our cavalry were obliged to fall back a little.  The batteries opened on both sides. We had pretty hot work for a short time.  The infantry engaged our calvary and the Rebel calvary moved on our right flank.  We were obliged to fall back.  We did this in good order.  The enemy advanced in superior numbers but our skirmishers held nobly as a half of our battery went back to the river.  The rest stayed at the front.  Our men made a stand near Brandy Station and held their position till morning when they fell back to within about two miles of the river.  A line of pickets was formed and the rest of the force went into camp.

On the 3rd our pickets were attacked about 3 o’clock.  Our section went out and all sections of Company L from the 3rd and one section of the battery of the 1st Corps.  We drove the Rebs about a mile.  At dark, we retired to our old position.  We stayed there until the 9th when we moved across the river.  We encamped until 5 o’clock the next day when we left the cavalry and came here.  We are in a nice shady grove.

We had some work to clean up the underbrush, put up the picket lines, clean the battery harnesses and saddles and put up our tents and bunks.    We go on guard every third day and on police the next.  The police have to bring water and wood for the cooks.  The water is very poor and a long way to bring it.  There is some talk of digging a well.  The ground is very hard and dry.  It is composed of rotten stone.

We shall probably stay here some time.  Most of the Army has been paid but  I don’t know whether we shall get paid or not.  Please send me some papers once in a while so I can know what is going on at home.

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Pvt. Henry Brown,
Artillery Battery K, Bealeton Station,
Aug 14.1863

We are getting soft bread now.   There are tracts being distributed among the army.  I have got quite a number of papers.  It seems like old times to read them.  Please send me a fine tooth comb in your next letter if you think it will come.

We expect to get new harnesses, caissons and some recruits.  I hope we shall because our harnesses are rotten, our caissons are old and some broken and we are very short of men.  A good many will be discharged in a short time.

Direct your letters to Bealeton Station, Army of the Potomac, Horse Battery K, 1st U.S. Artillery.  I give my love to Ada and the boys.  I don’t think of much more to write.  My love to you.

Goodbye for this time,