Caldwell's Brigade, Hancock's Division, at camp near Harper's Ferry -- describes "hideous fight "at Harper's Ferry, where his regiment lost half its number but was "first to occupy the place after its inglorious surrender. "Talks about the battle at Antietam, where "some of the Rebels asked us to pray for them and we did in a manner they did not like, "mentions he has received no pay for seven months.

Congratulates Denton on his promotion to surgeon's orderly and describes intense fighting at Fredericksburg, where the 15th New York Engineers got "badly cut up "while attempting to throw a bridge across the Rappahannock under heavy Rebel fire.

lists names of those in the company who have died, been taken prisoner or run away; tells of leaving Antietam for Harper's Ferry and describes in detail difficulties of throwing bridges across the Rappahannock and then taking them up again under fire as the enemy advanced; asks "What advantage was gained by our troops going over there? None-only we made a fool of ourselves and left a chance for the Rebels to laugh at us. "

Mentions he is still waiting for pay after nine months; says "Well, here we are on the banks of the Rappahannock looking down in contempt upon the miserable city. Old Burntsides (sic) says to the Rebbs-now you fire a gun at me and down goes your town. Rebb Gen. Lee says now you come any further and down goes your house and so on, but we don't see any house go down. "

Is happy to report that back pay ( 6 months) was distributed day before New Year's; I find it very inconvenient to be without pay for so long I could get along well enough if I could only get tobacco, for you know when you was with us that if a soldier gets out of that article, time hangs more heavily on his hands; describes tents being erected on both sides of the river by the Feds and the Rebs and is puzzled as to why the Rebel tents seem superior; huts also being put up and spirits of troops "excellent. "

Describes the activities of two former comrades-Harry [J] Eager of Co. A and [ ? ] Lane of Co. C., who forged discharge papers and put on citizen's clothes. Both were found out, arrested, and Lane attempted escape by jumping out a third story window and breaking both his legs. Also tells of visits to Bacon's Shotacaryprop.

Tells of transfers of friends; reports that Maj. [ ] Gerber was court-martialed at West Point for "rascally thieving "; contrasts Generals McClellan and Hooker.

Vividly describes the fight at Chancellorsville and the retreat of his unit "twenty-one miles in seven hours with heavy knapsacks, 8 days rations and the mud 18 inches deep-the Rebs shelling at every step. "

Response to Dennett's queries about jobs; mentions that Hooker and Halleck have been to see the President and he expects Hooker to be in action before the week is out.

Describes being very ill with a "bilious fever "and hears Rebels are showing signs of attack.

Tells in some detail attempts of Federal troops to throw bridges across the Rappahannock under heavy Rebel gunfire; Capt. C.C. Cross of his battalion is killed during this action which he describes as a great loss.

Writes about a Union soldier taken prisoner at Chancellorsville who was marched to Richmond and later exchanged; says prisoner told of horrors of the march and reports that Richmond has many more union sympathizers than some cities in the north.

Thinks it a pity Lee was ever permitted to re-cross the Potomac; talks of pickets of the enemy camp being within 200 yards and how men on both sides exchange papers and news one day and fire upon each other the next; discusses the drafting of more men.

Mentions suffering sunstroke while marching 20 or 30 miles in heat as rear guard to army of the Potomac.

Relatively quiet along the Potomac; his battalion has thrown four pontoon bridges across the river; reports being fired upon by the Rebels, but hastily, with no time taken for reloading as at Fredericksburg; refers to Copperheads as "snakes. "

Describes deserters being rounded up and shot, mainly from the 2nd brigade, 1st division, 5th corps; intends to go watch as he feels something must be done to stop deserters; reflects upon his feelings as a native of Britain and a Union soldier and comments upon England's attitude toward the war; discusses mutual antagonism of England and U.S. toward Copperheads.

praises the work of B. Company; did not attend the shooting of deserters but those who did described it as a "solemn occasion "with 35 bullets passing through them and killing them "instantly. "

Mentions load of kindlings and torpedoes under the railroad bridge at Rappahannock station "ready to touch off at any moment. "

Tells of marches back and forth to Culpeper from Rappahannock Station. "I suppose we have to do it to while away the time. "-thinks Culpeper is about the "meanest place that I have been in Virginia. "

Thinks a long march of his company is about to take place, possibly toward Richmond.

Thinks troops generally happy after a long march and tells of individual activities in camp.

"old blown up, torn up Yorktown, "describes vividly destruction in Yorktown from fires and explosion.

References to his camp where a Negro regiment has been assigned and stories about the difficulties of moving his regiment to the outside of the fort, where the Negroes were ordered inside. Says "the white man is not as good as the Negro anymore; "describes quarreling between the two regiments and the burning by the white soldiers of some of the tents and buildings inside the fort before turning it over to the Negroes.

Gives an account of raids up and down the Peninsula and the destruction of the Gloucester Court House.

Writes that he has been on many peninsula marches but none before where he has been exposed to so much hardship; has been on picket duty ten days at a time; reports men have been dying very fast-139 thus far- with one of them being a soldier shot at Yorktown for letting a prisoner escape.

Reports the arrival of 75 thousand troops in the last 15 days, with many leaving on transports; says things are being conducted very quietly but rumors are that "they are determined to have a ball "in Richmond.

Hampton Hospital, Va., tells Aunt Mary he has been ill but is better; writes-- "Mary, I have made up my mind to take as good care of my life as I can now. For you know that life is sweet to me about this time. I have been in a number of bad places since I have been out here this time and come out all right and now if I can get out of a hard chance, I shall do it, for, as [E.B. Prime] says I had rather be a coward than a dead hero. "

Has been near death from severe illness, which he describes; tells of transfers to various hospitals when his camp was evacuated; is reduced to 94 1/2 pounds; 18,000 sick Rebels have been moved from the hospital to Elmira, N.Y.

Still ill; congratulates Dennett on his marriage July 23; describes vividly a tornado that morning which struck the "dead house "first, smashed other buildings and struck part of the hospital; complains he has received no pay since January 1.

Outside of Washington, D.C., writes that he has reenlisted for 100 days.

Says "news from our army has been cheering from every source "; asks Dennett to loan him $3 as he has not been paid in 8 months.

Describes his duties of picketing and scouting and marvels that the enemy appears as vigorous as ever; comments on the long, unanticipated duration of the struggle, and remarks that the double purpose of the war now is to "revenge the deaths of brothers who have fallen and to tear from the grasp of treason the land which must be free. "

thanks Denton and his wife and her mother for the money they have sent and describes walking one-half mile to "a sort of hotel, "where he purchased "ham and eggs, coffee with milk in it, homemade bread, more coffee, beefsteak, more coffee and a piece of pie. "

"We are now on the outpost--the whole army of Washington is under our care--a fearful responsibility. Surely history cannot fail to mention Company G hereafter. The very trees seem to tremble at our approach. General Early the Rebel has fallen back before us as expected and all is quiet along the Potomac. "

Hampton Hospital, expects the hardest battle of the war to start soon.

Describes leaving the hospital September 29 with 300 sick Rebel soldiers on board who were paroled for sixty days with the expectation of being exchanged -- "dead men nearly, for they had been at that point 18 mos. Prisoners and sick all the time; "describes reaching his regiment "a dirty set of men 3 or 4 weeks without a change of clothes or tents; "tells of an attack by Rebels and describes other vigorous fighting near Richmond; says most of the soldiers have voted but the vote will disappoint the north because McClellan's (Gen. George B.) stock has fallen since the Chicago convention.

Chesapeake General Hospital, Fort Monroe, predicts war will be over in 6 months.