Camp near Stafford

Court House, Va

Dec 2nd, 1862 

Dearest Aunt,

 I owe you many apologies for not replying to your valued letter of the 13th sooner but since its receival I have had so much to occupy my time that l have not been able to devote much time to letter writing. I was very much gratified to hear from you again but sorry to hear that you had been so ill. I had waited long and anxiously for a few words from you and I had begun to fear you were not well or I should have heard from you sooner.

We are at present pleasantly encamped near the old and somewhat dilapidated little town of Stafford which is situated about ten miles from the Rappahanock River and Fredricksburg which is the nearest point. The weather of late has been rather cold, cloudy and wet and this I think is one of the chief reasons for the delay in our forward "On to Richmond" movement. We are all enjoying the best of health and as good spirits as the sad state of our national affairs will permit. After indulging in the fond hopes that "white robed peace" (our country's idol) would long ere this have been restored and we would have been permitted once again to live in the enjoyment of the happy priveleges of Home and many kind friends. We find the cold and wet season almost upon us with appearance of a hard winter campaign.

I was greatly pleased with the letter from Aunt Lucy and husband which I found enclosed in yours. I wrote to them soon after I left Crown Point and I was very much gratified by receiving an answer a short time since. They were well as usual. I received a letter from the west a day or two ago hearing the sad tidings that Uncle Samuel's son James is wounded. He was wounded in the groin at the Battle of luka, Miss. He is now in the hospital at Quincy, Ills. The letter stated that it was thought that he would not be fit for service again on account of his wound which must be bad. He is the oldest of Uncle Samuel's children -See No 2 - (A.C.Woods) 

Letters of Alfred Covell Woods. 

Contributed by J. Tierney