Brandy Station, Virginia
March 3d 1864

Dear Father,

Yours of February 26th is at hand. I am very much pleased to hear from home.

Yesterday we just got back from a five day reconnaissance. The First Division of the Third Corps and our Battery went out to support the First Division of the Sixth Corps. The Sixth Corps went to Madison Court House and we only went to James City. It is called James City but I can’t see the city for there is only about ten houses in the whole place. But all such places are called cities or towns in this country. We started last Sunday morning about five o’clock (Mr. Hill was here at the time but I did not have a chance to see him the morning we started) and marched all the way the first day to James City. It is about five miles from here. It was very pleasant all day but it grew quite cold at night. The wind blew very hard. It did not go very nice to sleep on the ground after having our nice bunks all winter, but I had to laugh at some of our men that wanted to hire one of the houses to sleep in.

The second night we were out it rained and it was very muddy. We had to build large fires and make beds of rails which did not sleep very comfortable—especially for the new men. We done well enough though. But the third night we were out it rained and snowed both and we all got wet through. It made a very bad time. But Clark’s Battery is never discouraged. We made a very large fire and sat around it all night singing and making all the fun imaginable of the new recruits who went around shivering and cursing everything and everybody. They thought it a pretty severe initiation but we are all now back to camp and I don’t know as there is any bones broke—at least there is none  in our division unless it is some chicken bones that we captured while we were out.

Father, I am very glad that Mary is well enough to return home to her Father’s although I should rather she would stop with you. Father, the little trouble is settled and nobody need cross between me and my wife again. If they do, they must beware for I am thoroughly convinced that it has all been a plot and a jealous one too, to ruin our happiness. My ear hereafter is deaf to all such tattle.

I am very sorry that I have not got a man yet for our township but I hope you will not need any. I hope you have our quota filled by this time and I do hope you will succeed in getting my commission for me. I have not asked Capt. Clark for a recommendation yet and I hope I shall not have to come down to him for anything.

Give my regards to all and accept for you and Mother my love, — C. V. H.

Write soon and tell me all about things. I just understood that we are liable to move again at any moment.