Charles. Citty County V^a

July 5 /62

 

Dear Sister

I received your kind letter some 10 dayes ago & have bein so buisely engaged that I have not had time to answer it and have but very little time to day myself and lewis are both well & have bein since Lewis recovered from the mumps We have bein moving ever since the 25 of June We left our camp near Richmond on Wedensday night 25 to join Jackson at Ashland he arived there abought 3 Oclock the next morning & rested untill sun up whilst we wer resting the 37^th V^a Regt came along & I saw several of my old friends and acquaintances among the number was Cousin Will Hogg & Pleasant Clark they was both well and in fine spirits We started again after they passed and traviled abought 12 miles when we came up with / the enemy at Cole Harbour abought 3 Oclock Thursday 26^th when the fight comenced and has lasted 5 dayes with very little cessation thrugought the whole 5 dayes we have bein in the saddle ever since untill yesterday we got a little rest the enemy are under cover of their gunboats on James River they are getting on their gunboats & transports as fast as they can there is a great many of them on shore yet Jackson Longstreat & Ewels Divisions came down yesterday to atact them but have not done so yet they wer driven up in line of battle all day yesterday and last night and are still in the same position yet this morning they canot draw the enemy from under their gunboats & I do not think there will be any more fighting at this place the enemy would have bein completely routed if it had not bein for their gunboats we had them entirely cut of from their gunboats on the Pamunkey River & they had to make their way to James River a distance of 25 or 30 miles throug swamps and thickets we captured very near every peace of artilery they had if we can suckcede in roughting them in this place it will end the struggle for Richmond do not think they are staying hear for a fight / it is onley to guard their wagon train they have abought 600 wagons at Westover abought 30 miles below Richmond at whitch place we are advancing on at this time our forces are abought 3 miles from the above named place & it lies imediately on the bank of James River & Heren Creek whitch formes an Island it is a very strong position with their gunboats to back them I have not heard any of the result of the battle yet we was kept in rear of the enemy all the time that is the enemy was between us and Richmond it is reported we captured 25 000 prisoners with 80 pieces of Artilery 60 000 stand of small armes and a large amount of wagons and Ambulances Tell M^r Hogg that I saw Will yesterday morning & he was well and harty I did not have a chance to talk with him any time this is twice I have saw him since the battle comenced they have lost their Co^l I supose you have all heard that he was taken to Abingdon to be buried I allso saw Pleasant Clark he was well I fear I have not time to wright any more at this time our Companey all got through safe with one exception Pendleton was woonded in the foot slightley there was onley one man killed in the Regt. the canon have began to roar we will have to move directly so I will have to close Give my love to Father & Mother Laura & Sue & receive a portion to your selfs from your Brother                             

T W Collay

 

I would like to wright a great deal more if I had time /

 

direct your letters as before

Lewis sends his love to you all

& sayes he has not time to wright

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