Winchester March 3rd [1862] 
Dear Sister: 
 As Coupland Page is going to Lexington tomorrow as recruiting officer for the L.H.V.'s, I will send you a few lines to let you know the sum of affairs down here.   
 Everything has been upside down here for two weeks.  The Yanks are  
very near us in three columns of about 10,000 men each, and no one knows whether Jack, was fool enough to fight with this small force or not, but the thing was settled today, I think, for he sent off the large cannon on the breastworks to Strasburg so I think we will pull back to that point and establish a line across to Culpepper Court House, for if we fall back the army at Manasses will also have to draw in its horses or be flanked which is by no means agreeable.  Jeff Davis says in his message that we have been attempting to defend too much frontier so I think we intend to pull back, a thing, by  
 
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the way, I dont like, as I was getting to feel myself at home. 
 I went to see two nice young ladies night before last, went at eight and came home at eleven, so you see I am getting to be quite a ladies man.   
 I did not reenlist for this season, as I am not old enough to be drafted and as very few of the old company like the infantry service, we wish to form a cavalry company and I will have time to look around, but dont think that your brother has proved recreant to the call of his country, no never do I intend to desert the flag of my country, as long as the abominable flag of despotism hovers over a fort on Southern soil, rather would I have my bones rot on the hillside than live a slave for it would be the most degraded slavery. 
 Excuse this scratch as I do not endeavor to show off as a scholar but am only a Soger Boy.   
   Good bye, 
     Ted