My Dear Wife,

I guess you will think wonders will never cease when you receive these lines.

We have just received orders to march for Leesburg without delay distance about twenty five miles. What there is up I cannot tell. One thing certain, we shall not be much father from Washington than we are now and there is a railroad from there to Alexandria so we have time to go there and be in Washington by the 30th. There is a good many in hopes that the order will be countermanded before we start. If it is not, we shall be in line at 6 o’clock tomorrow morning. There is not much spare time for it is about 9 PM now.

I shall carry nothing with me but my overcoat and rubber blanket and one shirt. All my other things I have packed in a box and am going to try and get them to Washington.

I expect this will come very unexpected to you and I wish it was other ways for I think more about your feelings then I do about myself. I do not know as I had ought to write but I thought if I did not write the suspense would be worse to you that it would to know the reality and if I have done wrong you must excuse me for I do not wish to do anything to wound your feelings but I know your nature so well that I think you had rather know the certainty of it and it is not too late yet for us to get orders not to go. We are not so near it yet as we were going with Gen. Banks but you must recollect that we are poor short sighted mortals and cannot tell what is best for us. Perhaps it will be the best thing we can do is to go there tomorrow for it has been one continual string of mercies that has kept us so far and all we can do is to hope that the same merciful hand that has protected us so far will continue his protecting power over us. Still I feel like doing my duty as a man until my term of service expires hopeing that he who notices the sparrows fall will take care of me. And now for my sake do not worry about me for you cannot turn one of you hairs white or black and now I shall have to close my dear for it is past nine now and we shall start at 5 instead of 6 if the order is not countermanded.

So hoping soon to see you I close. From your affectionate and loving husband, C.W.G.

PS. I expect I shall lose my things for the teamster that we engaged to haul them has backed out and I cannot carry them but I do not care much. They are not very valuable. Please excuse all mistakes. (Charles W. Gooch)