Fredericksburg Va May 16^th 64

           

Dear Parents

                  Once more I seat myself to direct a few lines to you to inform you that we are all as well as usual and I trust this will find you all the same This is the first opportunity I have had to write to you in two weeks and I suppose you are quite anxious to hear from us by this time judging from experience you know for I have not heard from you since I last wrote and if ever a letter found a welcome one from home would now but we do not get our mail regular yet the other day we got a small mail but there was nothing for us / but an Ithaca Journal. The fish line came through all right but I have not used it yet for the Co has got a service which supplies the whole company with all the fish they want besides giving a good many to the Sanitary commission for the sick and wounded in this place All that are able to be removed have been and are being sent to Washington This campaign is the longest and hardest I have ever witnessed but we are having good success so far & I earnestly hope it will continue the sick and wounded have been better cared for this time than ever before for which the soldier can return his thanks to the U.S. Sanitary commission and may God bless their efforts and / and those engaged in the noble work of nursing the poor wounded and battle worn soldier. Oh dear Parents you know but little of a soldier's hardships I dont mean ourselves at all for we have it comparatively easy to what some have it but we have had tough times lately now I tell you and have been nearer the scene of action than I thought we would ever get perhaps the Captain has told you all about it suffice to say I know what kind of noise a shell makes when it whistles close over your head Silas Personeus is wounded in the leg near the hip and very badly they say too. I have seen nearly all the boys from Caroline that are in the 109^th and the 6^th Artillery 

 

We have got a ponton bridge across the river here and Co. G is all alone to take care of it. The Rebel General Johnson crossed our bridge with his division as prisoners on friday last and yesterday sixteen pieces of Artillery crossed that had been taken from the rebs and this morning 150 more rebs crossed over all on their way to Washington but dont flatter yourselves that Lee is whipped for he haint but Grant is going him a good long pull at it and our losses are very heavy

 

hoping to see better times I bid you all good bye From your Son

                                                                       

Charles W

 

P.S. Daniel is getting tough and healthy as a bear

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