Bermuda Hundred Va. Aug. 9./64.

 

I was very glad to hear from you again this morning both by letter & paper as I got your letter of the 4^th and "Herald" & "Ballot" of the 3^d & 4^th insts. at the same time. By the way I think it will hardly be worth your while to send me any more papers, as we are liable to start at any time between this day and a fortnight from to-day. You can also do as you please about writing, as it will be nothing very dreadful if I do not get a letter from you in a fortnight's time, as I think I have, thanks to Uncle Sam's Mail Agents been even longer than that without letter or paper. I have not seen nor heard from Uncle Tho's or Cousin Calvin since I last wrote but shall try to do one or the other before that time. I should like to see them / both very much before I leave. Our Regt. and the 7^th N.H. are not in front of Petersburg. Gen. Meade's Army is there, to the south east of the city and within 2 or 3 miles of it, while we are to the north east and 10 or 12 miles from the city and on the north side of the Appomattox River. The Rebs have earthworks and troops in front of us so we have to keep watch over them so that they do not get in the rear of Gen. Meade's Army. Gen. Foster's forces are on the north side of James River.

 

I have already answered Aunt Harriet's last letter, but I hardly expect to get another from her or hardly anyone else till my time is out. I don't know which is the most anxious, we to get home or you to have us, but neither will have to wait long in suspense. 

 

I hardly think we should have got away any sooner if you had spoken to Chas Goodwin or any body else at that time. the main difficulty was that we did not start soon enough. Nuff ced.

 

I think all the nursing I shall need will be good food and plenty of it and plenty of sleep, at least I hope so.

 

The Exeter boys as far as I know are all in as good health as usual and send their respects to their friends.

 

For fear I suppose that we should rust or mould they have set us to drilling 3 hours each day commencing yesterday.

 

We hear that the Rebs mined one of our forts in front of Petersburg and blew it up, but that our folks knew it and had taken everything out of / it and had put up batteries in the rear of it, so that when the Rebs charged after the explosion our folks opened on them and slaughtered about 5000 of them. I know that there was very heavy firing in the direction of Petersburg for about an your and a half about sunset [faded, paper fold]

 

Last night we got a dispatch stating that Admiral Farragut had got inside of Mobile Harbor. We have not seen any papers with any such news, our latest date being the 5^th inst.

                                                                                   

Yours in haste

J. W. Clement

Co. "B" 3^d N.H. Vol

 

Mr John Clement                                                        

            Exeter                                                             

                        N.H.

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