Hd. Qrs. Co. C 6^th Regt Me. V.M.

North bank of Rappahannock

Dec. 17^th 1862

           

Dear Mother

                                    Now that the smoke of another hard fought battle has cleard away and again we are in camp and at rest, I thought I would get out my portefollio and sit down by one of the many camp fires and write a few lines to you to let you know that I am in good health &c

 

            I received your letter of Dec 1^st and was very glad to hear from you at home. the letter which you said that Willie wrote the week before has not been / received by me. the letter which contained the han'kerchief has not and the gloves which you sent by mail has not been received. I had not heard from home for a long while till I received your letter. the two lost letters I wrote home I never received an answer from and sence I have received any papers it has been beyond recollection.

 

            I suppose before you receive this you will hear of the battle of Fredericksburg. The army of the potomac after a hard four days fight, unable to turn either of their flanks or to break the strong lines of their fortifications, have been withdrawn and have fell back to the north side of the Rappahannock 

 

            We advanced on their lines in severn lines of battle. we first tried their left flank, drove them and took possession of a railroad. they received reinforcement and drove us back. we again advance fought the ground over and again drove them but was unable to hold it after taken it, so fell back in our same position. the 16^th Maine Regt. covered them selves with glory in this affray, haveing made a gallant charge near the railroad. they were tried on the right, and in many other places in the line, but in every place we were repulsed with a great loss. Hancock's division commanded by Gen Hancock formerly of this brigade, in which Gen. / Caldwell of East Machias commands a brigade, lost very heavy. the lost in our (Howes formerly Smiths) division is verry light not over 300 killed and wounded

 

            The 6^th Maine may be called a lucky regiment. we had only one wounded in this battle. we led the advanced across the river was in the front the first two day fighting, and was under the heavest fire of the enemy's artillery. the shells burst all round us. the shots would striking short of us go over our heads doing no harm.

 

            Come to look at the position we held across the river, and to see what an advantage they had over us, in every respect of war-fare. Our army being on a flat plain exposed to their fire. they being on the heights which was covered with thick woods, it would be madness to charge them for they could cut us down like grass. I think we did well to get of as well as we did I do not know what the next plan will be, but I think we can not cross here, and if we cross at all, it will be at Gordonsville above here, on the Rapidan a creek emptying in to the Rappahannock

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