We have gained another great victory, this time on the sacred soil of Maryland, but the rumor that general Branch has been slain throws a gloom over the southern community; God grant that the rumor is unfounded. No details have come to hand but I do not doubt, but that the Yankees have met with another crushing defeat. My mind still wanders with our armies in the field and I cannot oh I cannot think it is my duty to remain here, while such important events are occurring. It is true I am not of military age, but there are twenty thousand in the army, who are not eighteen, and they fight none the less hard for it. Ever since this war broke out, it has been my desire (as you my parents know) to buckle on my armor and go to meet the invader. If I do not go to the war and the war should be finished before I attain military age, my chance for preferment in this world is gone forever, in vain shall I then plead younth as my excuse; the answer will be there were twenty thousand of your age in the army who unlike yourself went and met the enemy. Besides my going to the war will do no harm to the country; I dont assist in any way in furnishing food for the army in the field; I consume, I do not help to make. Besides do you not think sometimes, that I must picture to myself the future, when perhaps I may have a family of children, and when they shall sit on my knees and look up and say Father "O tell us all about the war, and what they killed each other for." The war may last long enough for me to get into it but then again, it may end tomorrow, who can tell what a day or an hour may bring forth. If the enemy meet with such crushing defeats as they have within the last few months they must without doubt make peace; the northern people must come to their senses and when they do woe to all engaged in Lincolns vile usurpation. In a little more than a year I will be eighteen and I do not believe that I will much stronger than I am now. I am very sorry to hear, that my little sister has had an attack of fever and hope that she will soon recover. I think, with you, that Len's box was worth an answer; he must have had a rare time amongst his fellow officers; for the box of provisions would have gone a long way. It was indeed, as you say, "huge." How do you suppose before Len will get into active service. I doubt very much, whether the Yankees will let Colonel Shaw pass through the lines. They are certainly a perfidious race. As I have to study mathematics (I hope you will excuse all mistakes) I must now close.