In a Hollow South of Vicks

burg 3 miles & ½ mile from the

Rebel Rifle pits June 15^th 1863

 

Dear Wife My heading is rather long but I haste to say a few words to you all as I know you are all reallizing 5 times the suffering we are though dirrectly under the Rebels guns Though we have as yet taken no part as we are not fully settled & our things are scattered to the 4 winds & the boys are grumbling considerable about cooking utensils but we we have not a sick man among us our Co. I am in fair health last night I had a severe head ache & I have but little appetite but need but little as we are moving but little There are verry few men killed or wounded around the lines now / though there are at this time at least 300 cannon of all caliber from 160 pounder to 4 pounders discharged each minute hour of the day & thousands of muskets mostly from our side as a Reb dare not show his head only at the risk of a ball whizing by or against it now there is a continual crack of musketry all around our lines which is perhaps 8 or 9 miles long I may not tell the truth in all respects but we hear so many stories that I kind of take the average to give you & in many respects that may be more of the truth yet I do not wish to gass any for you or any one els I have but little idea of the number of troops here & here abouts but certain enough for any emergency I think We keep nothing only a strong line of picketts which are from 100 to 4 yds / from the Rebel picketts We do not feel any more concerned as regards danger than if 2 or 3 hunters wer shooting quails in the field you may think that gassing but it is so The boys are actually wanting to go out on pickett & do not like to be detailed for other duty for fear there will be a fight & they will not be in We have to keep a strict watch on them to keep them back Heavy guns on the boats & mortars roar loud as thunder & sound much like it as the sound reverberates among the hills which are verry steep & sharp all around here I had no idea there were such bluffs her & why the Rebels ever allowed them selvs to be driven out of the hills I cannot see as nature has made it impregnable against even a small force I should think; 2 Negroes came out last night just above us they say the Rebs have but 8 or 10 days rations & that corn & peas / They are certain suffering much from many causes. our shell continually burst over & in the city droping thousand of tons of iron among them. all say they are burrowed in caves & I doubt not such is the case as nothing els could save them from the storm of iron that continually fall on them I can give you no clear idea of how things look here but certain it is much better than I expected high dry & apparently healthy only the water is poor, the heat is not wors than July or August at home The birds sing the quail hollow as though no deadly strife was raging I think there will be no attempt at taking the place by storm but by siege They have turned out all their mules & some cattle to come out side the lines The mules are thick all over the hills & evry soldier has one that wants or has a rope to make a bridle of our men kill all they can inside their lines & then will not let them bury them only at night they want to stink them out of the city they say they killed 3 or 400 when they first came out there were about 3000 of them all to gether [paper fold, faded] & as all is in a [faded] I can send this by way of Haines Bluffs so I close as the opportunity to send is waiting Mr Levi Danby is down I will try to see him before he goes home

 

there is some 30,000 negroes here abouts that have come in to our lines I will write as soon as I can again so good by to all I may not get my resignation approved for a month yet in the

 

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mean time I shall serve my country as best I can & you would wish me to do you say never be a coward I will not

 

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your affectionate Husband

                        O Barnard

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