Culpepper County Va June 14th

1863

Dearest One,

This is the Sabbath and my day to write you a letter, but have none of yours to answer, have not received one from you in many days. Have no news now, only that I am in fine health and spirits [and] that we have started on a grand campaign somewhere.

I believe we are going into yanky land; if so you may not hear from me in a long time. I hope we will and that we will scare some of the blue bellies as bad, or worse, than they have scared some of our people. There is something brainy.

Charles has been sick for several days, but is better now. All the balance of the boys are in fine health & spirits. Our army has better clothing, more effectual men, and they are in finer condition than ever before.

This may seem strange to you after so many dieing and killed but tis true. There is scarcely any sick and the army has been recruited all the time. Our company can carry more men into a fight than at any time since the battle of Leesburg.

There is no falling out on the march, nearly every man is a veteran and we can thrash any set of men that ever lived. That is saying a good deal, but we have proven that without a doubt.

I wish Gen Longstreets Corps was down there, and they would let us loose on old Grant. We would have him out of his den in a little time. I feel so sorry for our boys at Vicksburg. Hope they will be able to hold out until Genl Johnston is ready to help them. I feel confident we will be able to defeat Grant.

The peace party at the North is growing every day, and they are now discussing the question of mediation in England again. But after all this we will have to force the North to recognize us before the war ends.

We have prayer meeting as often as we can. I have led twice in our company prayer meeting. The boys all are interested and behave well. You want to know the names of those that have joined the church. They are Jake Murff, Tom Cone, Clem Black, John Comfort, Geo Clark, Ed Stanley, and I.

The Yanky Cavalry attact Gen [Stuart] the 9th inst. The fighting lasted nearly all day. The Yanks were driven back to the other side of the river. Heavy loss on both sides. Was the largest Cavalry fight since the war commenced. Our division was sent forward to support [Stuart]. He was holding his own pretty well, so we stood off and let them have a fair fight.

Continue to write me and direct your letters to McLaws, Division, Longstreets, Corps, Richmond. My love to all, God bless you my own sweet wife.

Yours                Newton

[P.S.] papers scare