Camp of Division Sharpshooters

Near Petersburg Va July 3^rd 1864

Sunday Morning

 

Dear Brother

                        I expected a letter this morning but the mail has failed to come. You see I am in new business. A company of 100 men has been formed in this Division for Sharp Shooters. There are details out of fourteen different regiments. I supposed the men are all picked. However I am afraid they will be disappointed in the shooting qualities of some Capt Cooley of our Regt. is the Capt. If you remember the time you came to Geneva to see me of noticeing an officer drilling a company you liked the actions of pretty well, he is the man.

 

We expect new guns every day. I do not know what kind they will be. When we get them I will let you know what kind of a thing they are I am appointed commissary of the company so will not be obliged to go to the front unless I choose. The Capt told me all he wanted me to do was to lay back and see to the rations I suppose that will please Mother. It throws us out of making charges. To day I have got to see about drawing some camp kettles & stationery. To morrow shall draw rations again. The weather is awful warm. Not much going on here. About every day or night we charge the rebs or they charge us some where along the lines. The result is about the / same every time The charging party get driven back. There is a large gun that is mounted on the ridge back of us. the it sends a shell into Petersburg about every 5 minutes some days. I have heard it only once this morning

 

Thursday we lay in the rifle pits The rebs from across the river gave us quite shelling I think they fired 200 shots in half an hour. they struck all around us but not one of the Reg was hurt. Had to keep pretty close the ground. A solid shot bounded in Col Murrays pit

 

Write how the sheep shear. I cant think of any thing to write.

           

Love to all

Your Brother

Cha^s E Reed

 

Sunday Afternoon. This A.M. I went to the Division Quartermasters and got our stationery. He has got to send for the kettles. Expect to get them tuesday No mail yet to day. It is very quiet along the lines Tomorrow being the Fourth I expect to hear some tall cannonading. I see by the papers that Mr Chase has resigned. I dont believe old Abe will get a better man. I am sorry that it has happened. I wish it had been Blair or Wells

Cha^s

 

I have just seen the roughest sight I ever saw. Three men with their heads shaved close, their hands tied behind them and a board tied to their backs with the word "straggler" on it Only one held his head up

 

[blue pencil: Sharp Shooters]

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