Oct 26, 63. 

Dear Cousin Henry,

I have been a little dilitary in answering your wellcom letter which I received in due time. But it was not my fault for I have been very busey in playing my hand with the Gray Backs for the last month back. But the old saying is, it is better late than never. We left camp near Culpepper on the 4th of October and marched through a heavy rain all night to garrison a fort at the Rappahanack Station or Bridge. We got thare on Sunday morning at 7 O’Clock and I was sent in front with a picket. It was a dam dangerous place for the Gerrellers was thicker than magets on a dead horse. And on Sunday night it was the darkest night I ever did see. But everything went off all right. I was releived on Monday afternoon at 3 O’clock and I was not sorry I can tell you. Then I had to go on Officer of the Guard every other day until the following Sunday, when the whole army fell back, the rear of the army comeing in at 3 o’clock and the Rebs close on thair heels. We formed in line of battle to meet them but they only came as far as the woods where they halted. We lay in line of battle all night on Sunday night with a strong Picket line in frount until Monday about 1 O’clock, when our Calvery went in the woods after them to make them fight. They was gone but 10 minutes when we heard cannonading. Then we was shoved in, and in less than one half hour we had then skedaddeling like hell toward Brandys Station. We took 50 prisoners and followed them for four miles when we halted for 5 hours, when we commenced to fall back to the station again. We layed to the station until daylight, when we crossed the Rappahanack for Centersville which we reached ahead of the Rebs after marching 2 days and one night steady.

As the rear guard of the 2d Corps was going over Bull run Crick the Gray Backs tackled them but they got a dam site worst of it. On the 15th my Brigade had two shakes with them at Bristose Station. . . . I do wish that Meade would buckel in to old Lee and whip hell clean out of him, for I am tired of being between. . . I expect to get a first Lieutenancy now so I can get mustered in. Now, Hen, I have just come in off from a Review by General Terry, he seems to be a very nice man. He is Commanding the Division. Now I will close by asking you to give my respects to all the pretty women and you must write soon. . . 

Yours, etc. Lieut. A. T. Perine 62d N. Y. S. V. Army of the Potomac, Va. 

Kerr, M. (1955) In love and friendship. 

The letters of Abraham T. Perine, ensign of the Anderson Zouaves. 

Contributed by J. Tierney