Written from Alexandria, Virginia. Letter regards James M. Drake's views on slavery, discusses the beauty of the city, mentions inaccuracy of northern war news, and discusses Union officers' view of Stonewall Jackson.

Alexandria Va., Aug. 26th 1862.

Dear Father- Having a very few leisure moments I will now write to you once more – since I may not have an opportunity to do so again for some time to come.

Since I last wrote to you we have moved to this place – or rather we marched to this place last Sunday. We are now about 8 miles from Washington on the west bank of the beautiful Potomac and just on the boundary of the city of Alexandria. You will remember that here Col. Ellsworth was killed. I was in the "Marshall House" this morning and saw the very spot on which he was shot. This is a rank Secession place and is only kept quiet by the presence of a large number of soldiers.

It is a very wealthy and beautiful city and in times of peace must be a very desirable place to live in, and I should like to live here provided I owned 50 or 100 good "n­_s". Nothing like slavery for this climate, it relieves the white man and is all the black is good for and when you have seen as much of them as I, you will think so too. We are under orders to leave this place tomorrow at sun rise to march 70 miles - what do you think of that with 35 or 40 pounds on your back and a gun. The weather is very hot and the roads are very dry and dusty. Gen. Pope's in great danger of being taken with all his army, and reinforcements are being sent as fast as possible. Don't you believe all your Northern papers say, the fact is the army of the Union is in great danger of a complete defeat.

McLellan [ McClellan ] & Burnside have both gone to Pope's assistance and he still needs more. McLellan's army passed through here yesterday. He has now but 60,000 or 65,000 men. Most of our officers have a great fear of Jackson. That he is the most able General on this continent no one can disputes but when we get all our forces in the field we shall be more than a match for him. We now expect soon to be in the field and I believe I soon shall have a chance to sight my rifle on an enemy of the Old Flag – and I believe I shall be sure of my mark [missing/tear in document] fall first. When I may write again I can't say. Sharon boys are all well. We are to march to Culpeper Va where the battle was a few days since. Sharon boys are all well. Remember me to all the folks. Write soon. Direct to Washington D. C. Co. M. 33d Regt Mass. V. Yours truly, J. M. Drake.