October 29, 1863---"It is thought by some that we will have a fight soon, but I hardly think so. ..."

OCTOBER 29, 1863:            

Marion Hill Fitzpatrick, a Georgian serving with the Army of Northern Virginia, writes to his wife about his nearly bucolic conditions in camp. His tone is very different than his Army of Tennessee comrade’s:

"...I wrote to you a week ago and gave you a rough sketch of our late tramp. We have been resting quietly here since I wrote and it has been pleasant most of the time. We have had one rain and it has faired off pretty cold. We were on pickett last night and yesterday. This morning was ice and a large frost. We went on pickett on the Rappahannock about 1 1/2 miles from here. There was some excitement with those that were on post. Our Co. was not on post. The Yankee cavalry came in sight on the other side several times and our picketts fired on them pretty rapidly. I do not know if they killed any. The Yanks would retreat when our men would fire in them. There was also canonadeing going on at intervals some distance off, the result of which is unknown to me. It is thought by some that we will have a fight soon, but I hardly think so. ..."