H^d Qrs 3^d M^d V.V.Infty

In the front line near Petersburg V^a

June 22^d 1864

           

Dear Hester

                                    I thought this afternoon I would write you a few lines to inform you that I still live and am doing well. I recd yours of the 13^th Monday but this is the first chance I have had of writing

 

            You may rest assured that I was not wounded it was a severe sprain nothing more I received a letter from Mother last week and answered it immediately. You cannot imagine my joy at once more receiving a letter from home none but a soldier knows how to value a letter from home if he gets none for some time he is constantly worrying about the folks at home and his anxiety / increases as each day passes by bringing him no letter

 

            Since my last we have been in another hotly contested engagement and added fresh laurels to our brows. At 6 P.M. on the seventeenth our Division was ordered to charge the enemies works in our front two Divisions of the 2^d Corps and the 3^d Division of our Corps had tried it and been repulsed and now our division was to try it Gen Grant said we must take them no matter what the cost might be it fell to our lot to be right in front of a Rebel Battery (which as we advanced thinned our ranks fearfully) at length everything being ready with a hearty cheer we started for the enemies works at charge bayonets and succeeded in driving the Rebs and occupying their works the loss in our Division was so heavy that our three Brigades have since been consolidated into two Brigades the loss in our Regt was six killed and sixteen wounded and two officers wounded among the latter is Capt Littlejohn who is wounded in the left arm. 

 

            We are now about one and a half miles from Petersburg V^a and behind a strong breastwork not more than one hundred and fifty yards from the Rebs works. we have had no general engagement since the 17^th but a constant fire is kept up by the skirmishers and now and then an artillery duel takes place. it is as much as ones life is worth to pass his head above the breastwork or to show himself in any way the moment he does he is greeted with a shower bullets it is just as bad for the Johnys to show themselves for we greet them in the same manner. All the afternoon there has been some heavy cannonading on our left a large body of our troops moved in that direction yesterday and I think they are trying to turn the enemies flank

 

            Monday night I recd a bundle of papers from your friend, for which you will please tender my thanks all the boys come to me now for papers and I keep a sort of a circulating library.

 

            My stock of news is about run out so I will bring this rather / lengthy letter to a close.

 

Remember me to all your folks and accept my love for yourself. so with my best wishes for your welfare I close

 

Remaining as ever

Bob

 

Address as before

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