Sharp Shooters—                   

Chapins Farm Oct 3^d 1864  

  

Dear Brother

                                    I expect you will all be overjoyed to hear that I am alive & well for I presume you have heard that the 18^th Corps has been in another battle. I am now writing in the Fort we captured the first day we came here. This is a splendid line of works and it is a wonder how we ever got them. This fort is on quite hill the ditch is so deep in front you could hardly climb up over There is another Fort in the rear of this we charged twice the first day but were repulsed both times. I was in the last charge but came out all / right. I think the canister came the thickest there I ever saw The Rebels still hold that Fort The next day (the 30^th) the rebels having rec^d large reinforcements made two desperate assaults but were repulsed with great loss You ought to see the dead rebels in front of our lines. They are piled right up. They are worse than ours were at Cold Harbor & Petersburg The second day and night it rained. The roads are very muddy. I rec^d your letter and it came just in the right time for I laid in with a headquarters cook and got 2 biscuit spread with butter 10 cakes & 5 crackers all for the small sum of 45 cents. as I had nothing but pork and hardtack / they went pretty well

 

I should have written before but had no paper. Have not got my rifle yet but expect it is back where we came from. We have not moved our camp yet. dont know as we will. Our troops are fortifying here very strongly

 

I have confidence enough confidence in the Gov to invest all I have. When we get paid I shall send some money home I have not written much about the fight for you will see all about it in the papers

 

Write often

           

Love to all

Your affct Bro.

Chas E Reed

 

Direct to 2^d Div Sharp Shooters

                        18 A.C.

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