Camp Near Strasburg, Virginia, October 15, 1864.
Dear Uncle: — We are resting. Early, reinforced, came up a few days ago, evidently thinking a good part of our army had gone to Grant. Finding his mistake, he moved back to his old fortifications on Fisher’s [Hill], and is now there digging and chopping like mad. What we are to do about it, I can’t tell. It must be a serious business for the Rebels to feed an army there now.
I have not yet heard from the Ohio election. The two Ohio regiments in my old brigade (Twenty-third and Thirty-sixth Ohio) gave five hundred and fifteen votes for the Union state and county ticket, and none at all for the Democrats. People at home can’t beat that!
Give my regards to Father Works and to Mr. and Mrs. Valette. My sympathies or congratulations, perhaps, should be given to Mr. Oscar Valette. I see he is drafted. Of course, his health will be reason enough not to go. Jim Webb was drafted; ill health excused him.
Sincerely,
R.
S. Birchard.
