1^st LJW

Camp 3 miles NE of  

Warwick Court House Va      

April 14^th 1862

 

Dear Brother Frank

                        Your kind favors of the 20^th March & 7^th enclosing Mothers & Brother George's were gratefully & gladly received by me on the 11^th & 13^th inst You know not with what joy the letters are received by the soldiers of the different Reg^ts.

 

On last Friday while skirmishing with some of the enemy the Chaplain (Rev. J. Beecher) appeared and an with 3 bags of letters. (this being the 1^st mail we have rec^d since we left W.) such shouting & hurrahing you never heard, and you may bet we took more deadly aim than before. 

 

When I wrote last we were on or encamped near Newport News and as I then stated near Yorktown here I was misinformed as we were 20 miles from that place. I had but just arrived when I wrote and knew nothing about where we were, only what I could get from some of the soldiers at the Fort. We left our camp near Newport News on Friday, April 4^th when about 3 miles beyond N—News we met the enemys advance guard, consisting of 4 Companys of the Cavalry, 3 reg^ts Infantry & two batteries of Artillery drawn up in line of battle, which of course showed fight. the 31^st Penn were ordered out as skirmishers to draw attention of the enemys right, consisting of the 6^th La Reg and 1 battery.

 

While the US Chasseurs on the left and the 61^st Penn, 23^d Penn / and the 1^st L.I.Vol. made an attack with the help of Motts Battery. we moved, (after we had given the other Reg^ts time to get their positions) 23^d in front. this Reg 1^st L.I.V. forming the center at the first fire from the enemy it passed almost over their to our heads nothing more, but at the second fire a good many fell. here we made a deploy, bringing our right upon the enemy and at the 1^st fire they immediately retreated, still firing as they retreated. We persued them as far as their Fort 3 miles from Warwick. here they made a slight resistance but to no purpose they again retreated. At this Fort is their barracks. never did I see such fine ones for the soldier. The people north may talk about the Rebels suffering so, but it is all false they are fed better than we are / and we have seen by their barracks &c that they had better lodgings than we. We found fresh meat, just killed, but did not dare to taste it for fear of poison. here we we halted for an hour being all tired out, having been 10 miles without halting. After a slight rest, we again started in pursuit of the flying rebels. We did not meet them again, but passed through Warwick, and did not stop untill 3 miles beyond where we halted, and where we now are. there is not much danger of an order for an attack before Wed. The enemy have several small and one large battery before we can move very far. Gen. Keyes went up in a balloon day-before yesterday, and he says that the enemy have been reinforced to the number of 30 or 40,000. We have about or between 2 or 300 thousand men. Gen M^cClellan is here, his headquarters are at Warrenton

 

14^th he has since moved them to within 3 miles of Yorktown

 

Thomas Kinsey was wounded, in the head slightly. we were out on picket guard and there is a small river called Warwick river or creek. when T. & I were on post together he saw one rebel and fired but his gun missed fire. the rebel immediately fired the ball struck Ts. rifle barrel and glanced into his hand in the fleshy part of his thumb. of course he could not do any more, and left for the reserve. I remained there though but rec^d no injury, but the balls whistled around me and I think I have the satisfaction of seeing 

 

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several fall and be carried away. there is no danger of coming to a hand to hand fight & I think I am a good match for them for I am a very good marksman so you need not fear for your brother so a short farewell            Loomis

 

Tell Mother not to stop writing for I hope this will ans for both

 

I hope father will get better for realy I am afraid.

 

Kind and aff^t wishes & love to all.

           

Your brother   Loomis

 

Give this to George as it is to him only.

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