Letter from William Hardy to his wife, Sallie Hardy; 01 April 1862

              Culpeper Court House, Virginia 
April 1st, 1862

My Dear Sallie,

I just wrote to you a day or two ago, but I have nothing to do but sit here in my room, take a little physic, and think of my company, home, my dear Sallie, and my darling child. I have concluded to write you again; but heaven knows when you'll get the letter as we are almost - aye, for the time being, completely cut off from all mail communications, and I can't tell how long it will continue so. I will, however, write the letters and risk the chances for sending it off. I haven't received a letter from you since the 10th March but presume whenever the mail comes through it will bring me a full package of them.

Our regiment has had an exciting time recently. I think I wrote you that we were still falling back from Rappahannock, but that's a mistake. The entire baggage train was ordered back here, but our forces still maintain their position on the Rappahannock. Last Friday, the Yankees appeared in full force on the opposite bank of the river, and commenced shelling every house and skirt of woods on this side. Major General Ewell cautiously concealed his force (8000 strong) behind the hills. Then lay our regiment in line of battle for six mortal hours, and the Yankee bombshells whistling around. Our boys were delighted and thought certain the hour for an exhibition of their prowess had certainly arrived. A few Yankees crossed over, but during the night recrossed and next morning (Saturday)