Camp of the 148^th N.Y.Vols

Near Petersburg Va

May 17^th 1864

 

Brother Samuel

                        We got back to camp last night after being five days in the field. I wrote you last wednesday. thursday morning we started at daylight. Our Reg^t was in advance. after going about 2 miles we struck the Johnnies formed line of battle, steadily advancing, driving the Rebs till about noon Here they held our skirmishers The firing was hot but one of our Regts flanked them and charged when they skedaddled. They were not more than 30 rods ahead of us but the brush was so thick you could not see 4 rods. Their bullets flew pretty thick I notice I laid / very close to the ground We moved down to the right they did not get so close again We had one killed and number wounded. It rained very all day and most of the boys had nothing over them. I was lucky enough to take an overcoat. I cant write all but we drove the rebs in their fortifications, held them there till yesterday morning. They must have received reinforcements for they came out then and whipped us nicely. I think they must have attacked our whole line at once, driving the flanks. We were about in the center, they came down on us once. We lay in the edge of woods. The underbrush was thick and we had built us a breast work of logs which we lay behind. had telegraph wire strung along for them to get tangled in. They got pretty close before they fired, let them have two vollies, when they retired double quick. After they turned our flanks they got a cross fire on us. the bullets flew very thick Col Murray told me if we had stayed 4 minutes longer we / would all have been taken prisoners. I dont know how so many escaped out of the Regt. none killed out of our company. Capt Griswold is severely wounded in the shoulder knocked the bone all to pieces has had the socket bone taken out

 

Sat night our company went out on picket, were in good rifle range of one their large forts. They are very strongly fortified. The rebs made a break on our picket line in the night but we made it to warm for them. Sunday kept up a steady fire on them all day. if a man put his head above their fort he was a goner / Had them so they could not fire their cannon. It was pretty ticklish business for us but we were in a stumpy lot kept behind them had only one wounded then Jim Allen had a ball through his jacket I am thankful I escaped One spell when they got the cross fire on us I thought it was good bye home for the bullets were whistling in every direction and shells bursting. They will have to get more men to take Fort Darling.

 

Good country up there. I saw one piece of wheat I should think there were a hundred acres of it. Just heading out. It was splendid Had only one letter from home since I have been here.

 

Direct to 2 Brig. 2 Div 18 A.C.

                        Fort Monroe Va

 

Love to all

                        C E Reed

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