Home, Well I take the first oppertunity to write you

Webster
April 27th 1863
Home,
Well I take the first opportunity to write you.  On morning of the 25 we took the cars and passed up the Potomac River and we arrived at this place. On the morning of the 26 took breakfast and started at half past 8 for Philippe a distance of 15 miles.  Arrived there at two in the afternoon got dinner and at four were fired on by the rebs.  We were just in the act of mounting (guard) as Colonel Haligah was fired at by the bushwhackers, one ball hitting his horse in the neck, and in about five minutes our artillery was a firing on them, and they keep that up till dark. Co. C and D were sent to support two pieces on a hill but were soon ordered back to their regiment.  At dark we laid down on the bare ground to rest a little expecting to have a pretty short battle in the morning but about midnight there were more rebs to be seen.  Then we (early) hiked to see ___, so we were ordered to retreat back at Webster , and at one o clock this morning the whole train was in motion and they were woke up and put in motion without a ___ word being spoken and there was not a word spoken till we got five miles out of the place.  All that was heard was the tramp of soldiers.   As I said we left at one and made a march of 15 miles and arrived at the place we took breakfast yesterday morning past sunrise, and we are now awaiting reinforcements to make another advance.  General Keelley says  he will either whip them as (loose) every man he has got and his own life with it.  He is now coming with 6,000 reinforcements and we expect to march again tonight, and we also expect to have some pretty (sharp work) for the next two or three weeks.  I have stood the marching very well.  So far every man is eager for a fight.  Our rear guard says that we had not been out of the place more than two hours before it was alive with rebs.  Our ___ scouts reported the rebs to be 7,000 strong with 9 pieces of artillery and they had got them planted in with fire rest of the night, and when we left I saw about 50 of them camping. Tell the boys that if they were here to pick up blankets after us for one day they never will never want any more horse blankets so long as they live.  You need not write till you hear from me again.  I shall write every chance I have and that must suffice.  No more this time.  This from your son.
D.W. Sunderland
We are now two hundred an eight miles from North Mountain