The following letter was written by John H. Moore (1840-1910) of Belmont county, Ohio, who served in Co. A, 1st W. Virginia Infantry. He wrote the letter form their camp near Alexandria, Virginia, shortly after the humiliating defeat at 2nd Bull Run in which they had fought under Maj. Gen. Irvin McDowell’s 3rd Corps in Pope’s Army of Virginia.

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

Camp near Alexandria
September 5th [1862]

Dear Parents,

It is with pleasure that I write you a few lines to let you know that I am well at present and hope you are all enjoying the same. We are back at Alexandria again but don’t know how long we will stay here. We have had some very big fighting out here—another Bull Run scrape. We lost eight men missing and three men wounded—namely John A. Foster in the shoulder, Frank Dietrich in the hip with a piece of shell, Hezakiah Clark in the left side and arms. The others were taken prisoners. I got off safe.

We have not got any mail for three weeks nor couldn’t send any letters away. I heard that Thomas had enlisted. I want you to let me know if he has or not. We are laying here at Alexandria now. The day we came here we only had 160 men in the regiment. I don’t [know if] we will go into any more battles very soon. I have not go time to write any more at present as I send this with Major [Isaac Hardin] Duval who is going home to be Colonel of the 13th [9th] Virginia Regiment. Write as soon as you can.

No more at present. From your son, — John H. Moore

To James & Catharine Moore, Bridgeport, Ohio

Direct to John H. Moore, Care of Capt. Meddle, Co. A, 1st Reg. Va. Vols. Infantry

Near Alexandria, Va., via Washington D. C.