From Nellie's brother Wash, May 14, 1863 page 2

no big battles on the Rappahannock will ever do it -- that
is my opinion simply and you may take it for what it is
worth. Do not think that I am discouraged from what
I have said, for I am not -- Our cause looks better now than
it did last winter. Being so recently engaged in a battle
the like of which was never before witnessed, I am probably
less enthusiastic than at some other times, for the scenes
incident thereto were such as to daunt the most daring
spirit! Some of the Newspaper reports are quite accurate
in the general account of affairs, but if the rage of battle
was to the correspondents who were safe in the rear, so awful,
what do you think it must have been to one who was in the
very thickest and hottest part of it?

I have been looking very anxiously -- I don't know why
it is but anxiously I have looked for a letter from
Byron -- Hope nothing is wrong or the matter with him or with
any of you, shall certainly expect a letter to-night from him
or you -- it has now been over two weeks since his No. 13
was written!

Where is that letter from Mary Goss which she wrote about
the time you did yours? I haven't yet seen anything
of it. I rec'd one from Mary Richardson written May 3
and that is the last from home!

Ned must write and Emma and Hattie -- they all
owe me letters.

Of course, Nellie. I was in sport too about your beau --
you may rest easy on that score -- he will come along one
of these days -- "big as life and twice as natural".

What did you do for May-day? hope the sweet scented
May flowers were not wanting on the mantle. Even here
plenty can be found -- the woods are full of every
description of flowers and birds too! The trees have all
leaved out; you can see the grass grow; the sun is as
hot as at home in July. This must be a noble farming
Country and one delightful to live in in peaceful