Camp Near Waylands
    Mih
    [illegible] October th. 3. 63
   
Dear Brother I thought I would
pen you ofen Lines to inform 
you that I am with the regiment
again we are doing picket duty
after. don't know how long we
will stay hear. Our pickets are 
within twenty five rods of
The rebs. We Expect abig Battle
Hear Befor Long. But Let it com
the rebs are fortifying in frunt
of our pickets we can see Them
work.   they are within gun shot 
of us. they change papers with
our Boys and trade Tobaco for
tea and coffee they say that
they don't want to fight us but
the officers make them fight
I wish you was hear to see
this army of ours. The army
is all over. The cavalry is own
the move all the time. we had
Atuf time Last Night it rained
all night and when I got up
this morning my bed was wet
thru this is what [crossed out letters] a soldier
has . got to stand. But it is all
for This glorous union and the
Nigger I think when we get out
of this army we will know 
what hard fair is if we don't
I will miss my guess. four weaks 
ago our cavalry [illegible] the rebs out
of culpeper and we hold that
place I even own the cars to
Culpeper when I com out hear
we are fifteen mils from Theirs
at pr. This is ahard Looking place
knot much like Old Mich. Som
of the Children and women are
starving for want of food so I hear
John Dennis is in Culpeper
Wleele and rose are hear with
me. D C Hendershot is in the
hospital in alxandria and so is
A . j Walher Mason Norton
is hear he has [crossed out letter] just hurd of
the Death of his father. I hant
hurd from Home for somtime
I had aleter from Lib Strieker
yesterday. I would like to see
you all. How does george and kate
get along with their Boy I would
like to see them. But I must
[illegible] as The mail is redy to start
I am setting own the ground
and Leaning my back against
a fine [crossed out letter] tree Writing this Leter
anice place to write you , would
think so if you was hear 
  Write soon. My respects
to all my friends
  I will write more Next
Time write soon D. R. Frego