Just came back from a trip to Bull Run river and found box here you sent, in fine shape, with stockings and eats. Those cookies are the finest I ever ate. Those dates are fine also. You could not buy anything like that at any price here.

I was just over and got my sweater, just like the one I received from home. It surely is a peach, made of fine heavy wool and knitted very fine. But what is better yet, I got a knitted head gear, only your eyes, nose and mouth stick out; also two more pairs fine woolen socks just like the ones you sent. They are all sent by the Red Cross I think and issued thru our issuing office. I traded and got a sweater and hear gear to fit fine. Now in case I go over later on, as it seems it is undecided as to whether they are going to send us immediately or not, I am going to send some of this stuff home if I cannot take some along. I can always find someone that can use it to good advantage, if I cannot use it myself. I must say the boys surely appreciate those sweaters, although they all had some before. I think there are many over in France that will need them badly this winter. It is quite cold here mornings and one needs a sweater.

We were called out, 12 of us, to go to Bull Run river last night, about 18 miles Southwest of here, to stay overnight and bring back 250 negroes and supplies. There is a camp of 400 down on the river to dig out rock to be crushed for roads at the camp.

This was one of the finest drives I have made so far. The first time I ever was into the real part of Blue Ridge mountains. All you can see for 20 miles is hills and ravines. It looked very beautiful when we were up on the highest hills and looked up the Bull Run river. We went up and down hill all the way. If you would drive 3 feet off the road you would go down a couple hundred feet. We had to zig zag 3 times to get to the river valley and come back right on the same side of the hill, only about a hundred feet below each time.

We camped overnight on exactly the same spot where U.S. Grant had his tent at the Battle of Bull Run. There is a big colored stone post to mark the exact spot; also saw the old mill which was shot full of cannon holes. We were seven miles below the exact battle field of Bull Run.

During the night and today we had one of the worst rains I ever saw, just like a flood. Now leave it to me, we had some time to get home up and down those hills right in the rain, with thirty negroes on a truck. Some of those drivers were afraid to try it at first. But we got home without any bad luck. A couple of times we had to couple up as some of them slid off the road; one nearly went over. You should see those coons get out – the fastest I ever saw one more yet.

Between Camp Humphrey and this river is a large strip of Government land. Here is the Government workhouse and it is fixed up nice. It is a hog farm and fruit farm mostly, as it is so hilly you can’t raise anything else.

On the way home, we met thirty-eight ammunition trucks coming from Wisconsin. They had been on the road nineteen days. They were on the way to the coast to be shipped over. We had an awful time trying to pass each other.

One of the cars on the freight train jumped track on the railroad bridge last night here at the edge of camp, and fell down thirty feet, killing two brakemen instantly.

Well will close now as this is about all the news. Did not have to work on account of being out all last night.

Another bunch has to go out tonight and move another bunch down to the depot for overseas.

Reuben