To Mary Milroy From RH Milroy Aug 15 1862

              Head quarters Milroys Brigade 
     Encampment 1st Army Corps on Robisons River 
      5 miles from the Rapidam 
                                                  Madison Co. Va. 
                                                    Aug. 15th 1862 
 
My Dear Mary 
             I have seen & passed 
through many of the stern & terrible 
scenes & realities of war since I last 
wrote you from Woodville.  We left there 
on the 8th about 10 oclock P.M. – marched 
all night & reached Fairfax the County 
Seat of Culpepper soon after the daylight 
the nest morning.  Being the advance Bgd. 
of Gen. Sigel I at once reported to Gen Pope 
for orders & was directed by him to encamp my 
Bgd. in some comfortable place & ler them rest 
& sleep & get ready for action.  I found Gen. 
McDowell with his Army Corp at Culpepper 
C.H. (as Fairfax is mostly called) Gen Banks had 
gone out in the direction of Gordonville some 
6 miles with his Army Corps. In the afternoon 
about 3 oclock we heard a heavy cannonading out 
in the direction of Gen. Banks. & it grew more fast 
& furious till about 6 P.M.  We could also hear 
the rattling of small arms.  Soon after sunset I recd. 
orders to move my Bgd towards the scene of action. 
My boys who had been impatient from the time of