The original document was sent by Charles Miller Shelley to his brother Nathan George Shelley, residing in Austin, Texas. It was found in an building to be destroyed, and a copy provided to us in May 2003. (the author finished his letter where he had space - on the top of the first page!)

------------------------------------------------------------

The children. Write to me often. Direct your letters to Manassas Junction, Va. When I hear from home last they were all well.
Your devoted Brother
C.M. Shelley

In camp near Union Mills July 27th 1861

My Dear Brother George
Since your last kind letter was written I have undergone a variety of hard Ships and confronted a great many dangers. When we came to Va our Regt was stationed at Farr’s Cross Road, just 14 miles from Alexandria and became in connection with 3 other Reg the advanced Brigade of the Army of the Potomac. Immediately after our arrival there our Genl (Ewell) selected me as the commander of a scouting party to obtain information of the enemy doings. A very dangerous and hazardous duty my first expedition was uneventful but the next was interesting. I recd orders on the night of 12th inst at 7 oclock to take a party of fourteen men and reconnoitre the enemy’s camp, the Rumor having reached headquarters that he was advancing and had reached Springfield RR Station 10 miles this side of Alexandria accordingly I went making my way through the woods and got within fifty yards of their camp feeling perfectly secure in the belief that our proximity to their camp was unknown but by Some means we were betrayed and before we knew it were surrounded. The enemy however didn’t know our immediate locality and it was necessary for them to drive the woods in which we were located. They accordingly deployed as Skirmishers, and closed in around us. Three full companies of them. Fortunately they had left a narrow space in their line – too narrow for us to escape through as they thought, but when they had gotten within forty yards of us and had discovered us we made a break through the above mentioned space. Astonishing the enemy So they neglected to fr?? But in a Short time pursued us and caught three of the band and the guide. Myself and 10 others succeeded in getting away and returned to camp. We were notified that the enemy were advancing. My company was immediately ordered out to sustain the outposts four miles, we left camp at 12 oclock and remained with the advanced guard until Seven the next morning. We Saw no Sign of the enemy and not having our breakfast with us returned to camp. Scarcely had we arrived when a courier came rushing? Reporting that our outposts had been fallen? Upon. We fell back and took post ??? 2 miles from the camp, on the road to Alexandria and waited for the enemy. They were not long coming. There was 15,000 in that single column and they were advancing by three diferent roads with a larger number is each of the other roads. When they came up we fired into them and continued to do so for ¾ of an hour killing about sixty and wounding over a hundred. They returned the fire with spirit great voleys of musketry were turned loose upon us, brushing our clothes and whizzing by our ears. Passing between our legs and over our heads without any damage. We kept at bay that mighty column untill our Regt rec’d orders to retreat which was done in proper order, my company covering the retreat. My company was the only one engaged in the fight and only about fifty of them. We got none killed and but two slightly wounded, not disabled.
My company fights well and I believe they will stand by me. Our Reg’t was not in the two great battles of the 19th and 21st. They were great bicton?? And will have there influence upon the great question of recognition by foreign powers. Jim (their brother James Etter Shelley ) is stationed about 7 miles north of me on the same creek at Stone Bridge. Father is here- also came out to bring some recruits to my company – will return home in a few days. He is visiting Jim to day. I feel very gratefull to you for the interest you feel and express and the anxiety you feel for my welfare. I am also glad that you have not entered the army, but am very sorry you can’t visit Talladega and stay there until the War is over. Though the time has come when everybody should set aside all personal interest and give themselves exclusively to their country All our hopes and prospects? Are dependent upon the success of our contributions. If our government fails of course we fail. I shall observe closely that advice you give- will try and do nothing rash or hasty. I am much cooler under circumstances of danger than I thought I would be and feel that the last few weeks have done more to make a man of me than all the preceding portion of my life. I am very sorry you have suffered your self dragged into politics again. It is not by any means suited to your tastes or interest. It is not ???? at all here in tine?? And the honors nowadays are empty. Every body has left Talladega and gone to the War – four company of Infantry and one of Cavalry. A few more companies taken from there will depopulate the county.
You must not feel too much solicitude about me. I am much older now than when you knew my temperament- Contact with misfortune and difficulties have done much to develop whatever of natural capacity I may have had and I have learned to controll myself like a Machine Impulse – feelings in every thing of the kind has become subservient to judgement. My ambition and thirst for fame and glory are always set aside when anything of importance comes up between duty and the Bauble reputation. If I am ordered to face the canon’s mouth I do so without hesitation. I am held in reserve. I submit without a murmur. If ordered to march without ?????????????????? (fold in paper is illegible on my copy).. one knows I do it cheerfully. In a word, I have learned to obey.
I would like and if it is possible you would visit Talladega after the election. Jim and I both found leaving makes a vast difference in the way business gets on and we left so suddenly that our financial matters are rather complicated besides we left about 5,000 dollars worth of work for Tobe (brother Henry E. Shelley) to have done which must be completed this summer and fall, Rather a heavy task for one so young and inexperienced but so far as energy, will and sense are concerned I have no fear he is the greatest boy in existence – combines most of the elements of a man thatn any boy I ever knew. The only fear I have is that his phisical constitution will give way under it. If you could do so without too much sacrifice you might do him a some good. Give my love to Fanny and
--------------------------------------------------------