Camp Near Petersburg Va

Sept 19^th 1864

           

Dear Parents

                                    I will try to pen a few lines to you this evening to inform you that my health is good and I hope yours is the same. I received a letter from you last evening and was very glad to hear from home again Voorhis Besemer is about the same as when I last wrote you and Hice was worse the last I heard from him which was last saturday night He went to the Hospital last friday if I remember correctly. To day John D Millspaugh was wounded & the doctor says it is a mortal wound / Millspaugh has been a teamster at Head Quarters all summer and has been with the Co only four or five days and had been out to work with us but once before to day and it seems strange that he should be the first one to be shot out of this Co this season and it reminds me of the saying that "the last shall be first and the first shall be last". The shot was no doubt inflicted by a Rebel sharp shooter for we were in plain sight when he was shot I was about a rod from him he was cutting corduroy timber and he dropped his axe and exclaimed, Boys I am shot. This was all he said at the time. / He did not fall but clapped his hands on the wound which was in the abdomen Serg't Smith & John Crane and I carried him to the rear and he was borne from there on a stretcher untill an ambulance could be obtained when he was carried to the hospital where in all probability his days will be few. I suppose the Capt is home by this time and you are having fine times visiting and chatting about war times & I hope he will never return again as a soldier no matter how good a position may be offered him. Some people seem to think he will be back again but dont let him come if you can help it 

 

            I heard from Daniel last night he was well and hearty Lieut Carroll is expected down from Washington every day but has not come yet He is probably waiting to see who is to have the Captaincy I will close for this time by bidding you all an affectionate farewell

                                                                                   

From Your Son

Charles. W

 

P.S. You may let Uncle James' folks know what I have written about Hice

 

Tuesday morning Sept 20

Since writing the above I have heard from Hice and he is no better and is light headed a part of the time

SOURCES