Gettysburg Pensylvania

July 6^th 1863

 

My Own Dear Mother

                   You have heard ere this of the terrible battle that has been fought in which I took a verry active part and came off a little the worse for ware. I will begin from the time we left Emmitsburg our last place of encampment. we left thare July the 1^st in the morning and marched to heare. we got heare or just out side of the town about half past ten. we then rested and started for the field of battle. I was detailed on the rear guard to drive up stragglers, so when we got to the battle field the Cap^t of the rear guard asked the Gen^l what he was going to do with the rear guard the Gen^l said you can fight them. we all spoke up then and told him if we fight at all we will fight with our own reg^ts. the Genl then said well go join your reg^ts / double quick and away we went. I got to the regt just as they had formed in line. we then marched up on top of a little hill in front of which was the enemy. they wer not more than a hundred yards from us and they wer thick as hops. we commenced fireing and such a fire I never desire to hear again. it was one complete roar all the time and the bullets flew as thick as hail stones and in less than fifteen minutes we had Johnny Reb skedadling like a good one. all that could ran for thare was about as many laying on the ground as thare was to run. after fireing about an hour we fell back just as we began to fall back I saw one of our boys that was wounded and I took hold of him to help him off. I had got him about a quarter of a mile and sat him down to rest, when three balls struck me all at once. one struck me just below the sholder on the left arme, another struck me on the belly and the third went thro- / -ugh my left leg but did not touch the bone. the first two wounds are nothing but scratches but the one in my leg will be a long time before it is healed so that I can make a long march. I am now in a Lutheran Church in Gettysburg Pa. the people are verry kind and do all in their power to help the wounded but I will draw this to a close as I am getting tired. I am in tip top spirits so do not worrey on my account I shall come out all right in the spring. I have had no chance to send a letter and dont know how I am going to send this as soon as I find out how to have a letter directed to me, I will write and let you know. if you write to me direct to Gettysburg P.O. Adams County Pensylvania

 

from your loveing son

William E Foster

 

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Adress

William E Foster

12^th regt Mass Vols

Gettysburg P.O.

Adams County

Pensylvania

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