Camp GriffinOct. 15-My dear wife

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I have been very busy since we occupied Lewinsville & Prospect Hill, so I could not write much My lazy habits are pretty much broken up again. I was sent by Gen’l. Mc.Clellan on quite an important reconnoitering expedition last Sunday, & had excellent success. Went right in the midst of the rebels, might have cut off several of their vidette parties, but that was not my

business. Col. Hyde is detailed on special business now so I am in command. What do you mean by speaking in the way you do about his being sick always. He is scarcely ever sick, & never is off duty when he is so, except in an extreme case. He is generally considered the best Col. in the army of Smith’s division. He & Genl. Smith were almost beside themselves with joy at my return Sunday. I had 150 men & was gone all day & they expected me in a few hours as they thought I should

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be repulsed before entering the rebel lines, but I drove in their picquets & followed them so closely they could not give any report so as to get out a force to meet me, before I had examined the whole ground I wanted to see & get off to another part of their lines. Reconnoitering is rather pleasant on account of the excitement of it, but the responsibility is great. The movements of a whole army sometimes depend on ones report. I have had remarkable luck in this business. Have always been sent after two or three other parties

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have reported, but never had another officer sent after my report. There is a little fun in keeping these Genls in anxiety. I had the pleasure of keeping Genls McClellan, Smith & Hancock watching with their glasses for 12 or 15 hours to observe my movements last Sunday. I have a Col. tent stove now; its tremendous cold. My hand is so cold I cant write. We have to turn out every morn, one half hour before daylight. I want to go to Washington to day to get my new clothes- & splendid suit of beaver blue, $40. Have a rubber suit also. I dont care who reads my letters when I write some thing particularly for you

In haste yr devoted husbandW. G. Veazey