Camp near Stoney Creek

15 miles south of Strasburg

April 7^th 1862          

   

Dear Marshall

                                    I received yours of the 24^th ult was glad to hear that you were well. I wrote a few lines to you from near Strasburg after the battle. No doubt you have received them ere this time. we left camp near Strasburg on April 1^st and marched to the place where we are now the distance is about 10 miles. the greater part of the road was contested for with the enemy who were driven before us. Our advance batteries were engaged with them during the greater part of the day. We advanced through the towns of Woodstock & Edinburg and encamped near the latter place. the Divisions of Shields & Williams are here. Brooks is in command. Shields is at Strasburg his wounded arm is improving rapidly we are moving along very slow as the enemy burn all the bridges as they retreat / thus far we have been able to ford all the rivers but there is one about a mile ahead that is deep with steep banks, over which we are rebuilding the bridge. The rear guard of the enemy is on the other side and gives us as much trouble as they can. shells are thrown from each side every day by way of a salute and there is some skirmishing among the scouts and out-posts. Our guard are in good position on this side and every time the secesh try their hand they get enough of it and retire very quick. since I commenced to write they opened fire on some of our men. our Batteries got to work at them and now they are quiet again. Our Reg^t was on picket yesterday a half dozen shells were fired at us but they did not smite anyone. Our loss since the battle is two killed in the 29^th Pennsylvania Reg^t they were killed by shells during our advance to this place. we have taken quite a number of prisoners since we have been here. they are all well dressed and healthy looking 

 

I have no idea of what time we will move forward again. I suppose we are waiting for M^cLellan to get a little farther south. I think Jackson will not try us again in a hurry. we are now in the beautiful valley of the Shenandoah the weather is very warm and the woods and fields are showing their young leaves and grasses. Our advance will be through this valley, which runs in a southwest direction and gets wider as we go, the range of the Alleghenies on the right and the Blue Ridge on the left. the Shenandoah River winds through the valley flowing northward and emptys into the Potomac. the road that we follow is called the valley turnpike it is a very good macadamized road and is just the kind we need for our heavy artillery and transportation trains. this valley is very fertile and produces large quantities of grain Jackson was in clover while here as his supplies were plenty and convenient to him.

 

I suppose you have read accounts of the battle in the newspapers. none of the accounts that I have seen are correct except that of Gen^l Shields. if I had time I could tell you exactly how it was I was on the field before the forces were put in position and before the battle commenced. early in the day our Reg^t was ordered to support a battery which was planted on a hill in the front and center of our line. being on an elevated position I had a good view of the entire field and had a fair chance to observe every movement which was made during the day. when the Infantry on our right wing made the attack on the enemy 5 compy^s of our Reg^t went to help them the others being left with the Major at the battery. Our 5 compy^s were drawn up on the left center of our right wing and were in the fight as long as there was a confed to fight with. so I could see what was going on in this the most important part of the battle. the artillery did not fire any after the Infantry got fairly to work which was about 4½ P.M. the yarns spun on the reporters do very well to read they were picked up from hearsay after the fight, consequently they contain a good deal of gas

SOURCES