Camp Michigan, Va.
September.18 1862
Dear Father and Mother: Thinking perhaps you would like Hear from me I will write you a few lines.
I am well and sincerely hope you are the same but am afraid Father is not so good.
We are greeted every day with good news from the different Union forces and good news it has been.
I hope soon to hear that the enemy has surrendered and peace has been declared but I fear they will
not give up until they are forced to.
When this regiment was on the way to Manassas I did not think or fear of fighting.
First we came to Vienna and the enemy fled before us. Next we came to Fairfax, there they made no stand and I expected we were going to drive them with scarcely any opposition.
Many times they were called cowards for not making a stand at some of those places.
When we entered the field of the engagement on Thursday I expected every moment to hear that they were leaving their
entrenchments.
That word did not come but we received orders to fall back to Centerville for the night.
The next morning we advanced nearly to the field of Thursday and expected we would renew the
attack but it wasn't so.
The heft or the battle was two miles to our right and as I sat there Sunday morning hearing the roar of the
artillery and musketry I was sure our men were going to win the battle and thought they had until
Sunday night.
Word come to us about two o'clock the whole army was retreating back to Washington.
It took us nearly three days to get there and less than twenty four hours to get back.
Had they known of our retreat they could have taken or killed nearly all of the army.
I think this army will disband with another such defeat, at least I hope so.
I received a letter from one of Aunt Rebecca's daughters.
They are all well and send their love to you. It was from Mrs Sippell. The way they came to write to me I first wrote to Sickles and a few days ago I received one from her mother.
The letter you wrote to me did not come so I hope you will write again as soon as convenient and hope when I hear again that you and Father are well.
Please excuse my stinginess of paper for it is getting scarce.
I remain your affectionate son
A. J. Juckett