Sept 19/62

Camp in the Field

 

Dear Sister

                        Once more I have the opportunity of writing a few lines to you. So far I have escaped without a scratch and am in good health though almost worn out. We have been on the go night and day for the last three weeks and no prospect of being over very soon! We have been advancing slowly and steadily for the last week and the enemy have been disputing our passage inch by inch. Not a foot have we gained but we had to fight for. The battle commenced at Frederick City which is situated at the / foot of a range of mountains that will come under the name of the Blue Ridge. Last Saturday we lay in camp in sight of Frederick City with the enemy disputing the road with our advance guard. In the evening we were ordered to prepare to march and started on a night tramp. We passed safely over the Catawba Range where the fight had been progressing during the day and stoped in sight of Middletown. Sunday morning there was fresh beef killed for us and from appearances we supposed it was the intention to remain all day. by this time the artillery commenced to play on both sides. An hour afterward our brigade was ordered to fall in and / advance we passed down the side of the mountain to the hollow at its base where we were under the fire of both our own and their batteries who were firing over our heads. We advanced about one mile up the South mountain when we formed a line of battle and lay down to rest. We had only been there a few minutes when the Rebel batteries commenced to throw shot and grape and canister, fortunately for us they over shot us about 25 rods. We lay there about two hours with them playing on us with their batteries but fortunately not a man was hurt. At this time we were ordered to moove forward. as soon as we commenced to moove their infantry commenced to fire into us. We advanced / about 20 rods when we gave them the contents of our muskets and kept up a constant fire for one hour, when the Rebels gave way at which moment the 100 P V made a bayonet charge which completely gained the day for us. Men who had been in all the battles before Richmond say they never saw such warm work as we had. The loss in the Reg^t was 25 killed and 112 wounded. Our company lost one killed and 15 wounded. John Bell of Rock Springs was killed.

James Rankin  of Spruce Creek

John Erneigh   "  Bald Eagle

John Ulrick     "  Kylertown

Noah Goldman "  Stormstown

were all of the wounded that you would be acquainted with. We were on the ground during all the fighting since which / has been going on every day since till the afternoon of the 17^th when we were put in the advance and set to work on the enemy We did not do much for our batteries were out of ammunition and it would be killing men for no good to advance with the infantry. The loss in our Company was one killed and 4 wounded. I have not heard what it was in the Regiment. Sargent T B McWilliams of Spruce Creek a brother in law to Re^v Stevenson was killed. The wounded were strangers to you. Yesterday we lay on our arms all day nothing doing only among the skirmishers. In the evening we were relieved by another division who took our place and we fell back to a place where we could lay in safety during the night. We are still laying there this forenoon but how long we will be I do not know. There will be some hard fighting before we get to the river. This is all hilly mountainous country / where they have every advantage of us and to be sure they will use it to the best advantage to themselves.

 

They are packing up to leave so I must quit

                       

Good Bye

Homer S. Thompson

 

Paid 1 ct

 

Homer S. Thompson

            Company E

45^th Reg^t Penn^a Vo^l

            Care of Co^l Welsh

Burnsides 9^th Army Corps

            via Washington

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