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Assistant Quarter Master's Office, Head Quarters 2d Div., 6th Corps.
Warrenton, Va, July 28th, 1863.
Dear Mother:
Once more rejoicing over a letter from thee, I wish: it was received last evening, and [?] a new Postmark for thee. I am very glad thee was enabled to attend those exercises and that they were so succesful and interesting. I have never feared they were to be [underline]otherwise[/underline] and till [underine]very[/underline] near the time I felt sure of being present to [underline]see.[/underline] The Maryland Campaign, however successful it may have been, has effectually prevented my coming home at present. I do not complain, for of how little value is my pleasure compared with with the great results which are almost daily being effected, in the Armys of the West, South, Southwest and (though you at the North, do not realize it, but consider that we are doing nothing because [underline]Lee[/underline] still lives.) The Army of the Potomac.
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I can conclude nearly what the clamor of the north is, now, in relation to [us?], but who, looking at it with candor could expect it otherwise. Lee has made one of the boldest moves on record (remember I say "one of the &c) and because he is not entirely annihilated, [underline]we[/underline] are blamed. Lee crossed into Md. from the Rappahannock, by the shortest and safest rout, to be found, procured there more and better supplies than he had enjoyed for nearly a year, got reinforcements for his army, in that Loyal (?) State in greater numbers than we have ever found for ours in any country: by the aid of these and the knowledge which he had of the country before, he was enabled to maintain as the Sporting world, would say, the "Inside Track" keeping South Mountain ever between his army and ours, chose his own ground, engaged us and, with all these circumstances in his favor was [underline]beaten[/underline], and driven from the state with greater [underline]loss than the Southern Army[/underline] has ever sustained, [underline]comparatively.[/underline]
