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[Written on front:]

Deliver your next to Richard Rouzie Co. F 55th VA Reg't Brockenbrough's Brigade [?] [Division?] and it will come to me RR

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July 9th, 1863

Camp 55th Va. Reg't. near Hagerstown, MD

Dear Sister,

You will probably be surprised when you hear

that our army has been into Maryland and penetrated

Pennsylvania as far as Gettysburg where we had

one of the bloodiest fights of the war attacking

the enemy on last Wednesday morning on the

plains before Gettysburg he was driven back with

a lost of twelve thousand men and returned

to a position on the height beyond the town where he

remained all day Thursday skirmishing and fighting

slightly. On [Friday?] our men were in fine spirits

once many [?] the [?] which they knew must

come off on that day before Lee had said those heights

must be taken and about twelve we commenced

in the center with one hundred and five pieces

of artillery at one time which you know must

have been terrible. Our infantry then charged them incess-

antly until night but failed to carry the works.

The position was too strong. Our loss was heavy

and so was that of the enemy but I know not

how much on either side. Saturday morning

we commenced falling back towards this place

thinking that we have been severely whipped

but on coming down we [learned?] [from?] Yankees

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that they began to fall back twelve hours

before we did [crossed out: which oh I hope is so] once [consigned?]

themselves worse whipped in this than in any previous

engagements which I hope may prove to be true

as I am certain our boys have been checked for

the first time. Our [brigade?] acted gallantly

making the finest charge as they have ever

made taking several flags one of which was

taken by our brave little [?] Tell about it

if it will do his cause any good over the [?]

as he is very much invested. The casualties of

our Regiment are not known except what I

can say about the boys in our neighborhood namely

[Thomas?] [Powers?] taken prisoner with one wagon. Dr.

[?] [?] Bougham wounded and had his right arm

amputated. George Smith in Co. F from [?] wounded

once [since dead?]. Dallas [?] from Essex

wounded in leg. I have just been from the [?]

wagons to the Regiment once found all of the way

from our country well. Your letter of the 25th June

reached me at camp on 8th July and this was

written on the 9th so you can give me [credit?]

for punctuality this time. Give yourself

no uneasiness about me. I am still [only Sgt?]

and not much [disposed?]. I would be pleased to hear

of fish fries and tea pastries at any other time except

the present - for I must say I do not think this is any

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time for mirth and gaiety when our soldiers are

undergoing so much in the field. It makes us think

we [haven't been?] thought of at home when we hear

such reports however I suppose the Miller's crowd was

at the head of the business as country [characters?]

are coming from that way and I am told that

[Buck?] gets along amazingly well at [Springfield?]

Write me something about it in your next.

Tell [Hettie?] that Davy is well sends his love to

her and Nan and will soon come down when we

get into Virginia again. Your brother,

Richard Rouzie, Jr.