Camp of 2^d Div S.S—

Oct 29^th 1864

 

Dear Sister

                        Before you get this you will probably hear of the fight the 18^th Corps has had. In my last I wrote that we were under marching orders but I did not know where we were going. Wed P.M. we broke camp and went about a mile towards the river Here we found our Div and and some other troops in an open field. Bivouacked here that night. 5 oclock the next morning we started for the right. I dont know how far it is but by the road we took must / have been 12 or 15 miles as we did not get to the battle ground till about 1 o'clock I hear that it is the same place or near it where McClellan fought the Battle of Fair Oaks I shant write much about the fight for I do not know much about it, only we got badly repulsed. We (the SS) went in behind the 8^th Maine who were deployed as skirmishers We were on the extreme left of the line. I suppose they expected to surprise the Rebs but their lines were full of men so were repulsed.

 

Our side lost a good many prisoners. We came very near being taken. All that saved us / was showing a clean heel They were not more than ten rods behind us with a force large enough to gobble us with out any trouble The field were in was covered underbrush. I should think it had been cleared off two or three years and the stumps had sprouted just enough to cover us. The 148^th was very badly cut up, some of them taken prisoners. Housel our Orderly was shot in the knee.

 

Mark Swift is the ranking officer in the company now & he is one notch below me. Sullivan is missing think he is killed or prisoner. He was in the color guard. The Johnies / got our Battle flag

 

We got back here last night pretty well tired out. It commenced to rain thursday P.M. and rained all through the fight and most all night The mud was over shoe deep & so dark you could not see to pick your way at all

 

I am back again safe. I think the 18^th Corps is so well used up that it will take some time to get them in fighting trim again

 

Have been after rations this A.M. Last night I bought half pound of butter and a quarter's worth of sweet potatoes and a good supper. I must close

 

Love to all

Your Affct'ly

C E Reed

 

Sullivan is a prisoner I guess by what hear. The last seen of him he went into the rebel ditch in front of their works

 

The 148^th lost most all their men only 50 or 60 have come in yet.

 

Last spring we had about 900

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