Camp at Germaniaford on the Rappidan River

Sept 6^th1863

Dear Sister

I received your letter and the papers also and we started for picket the next morning Meads army crossed the Rappidan the same day and the division remained on his right flank which was at Mortons Ford we did not have much fighting to do while there The army has fallen back across the river again and taken up its old position Gen Custer is in command of the division and Toun the briggade Kilpatricks wife is dead and he is in new york You need not expect the Regiment home this winter for the boys wont enlist again and if they should take it home without enlisting them again they would never get it together again the boys are to smart for the officers and they know it, and besides half of them do not want to go home untill the regiment is discharged. I saw willie funkie and louie Eisnack when we lay at Catlett station they both look fat and strong I have not heard any thing from Jack that can be relied on one of the boys that came from washington lately said that he saw his name amongst the list of paroled prisoners at anapolis but i do not think that he is paroled yet if he was he would of wrote to me before this I saw George Hoelgelts three days ago he is well and full of old nick he said that he sent a letter with fifty dollars in it home but he had received no answer yet I heard of Christie Hocks death about four days after he was buried

Give my love to all and kiss Lola for me

Good By

J. Winchell