1864

Bermuda Hundred Va. May 11

 

I rec^d yours of the 5^th inst to-day. I have been thinking of writing for some time but have hardly had a chance as we have been on the move nearly all the time.

On the 4^th we left Gloucester Point and arrived at this place on the 6^th. We broke camp on the 7^th and afterwards 6 Co's went on picket. when we came in the rest of the Regt. had moved back 2 or 3 miles. On the 9^th we got up before daylight and packed our rubber blankets and overcoats and at about 7 o'clock we started and marched to the Petersburg and Richmond Rail-Road between 13 and 14 miles from Richmond. we then started towards Petersburg which is, I suppose, was the point aimed at. We marched to within 4 or 5 miles of the place and then went out about 2 miles on picket; soon after we were posted the Reb pickets fired on us wounding 3 men, 2 very slightly / the others very slightly a scalp wound in the head, one of the slightly wounded belonged to our Company but is not an Exeter boy. One man was wounded in the finger going out and one in the leg and one in the hand coming back; and these were all that were hurt in our Regt. W^m B. Perkins of our Company was had a sun stroke, he is a cousin of the Perkins boys of Exeter, he is better to-day.

 

After the Rebs fired at us we fired a volley at them and they didn't trouble us any more. Yesterday about 10 o'clock we started to come back but when we got about a mile in we were ordered back. we stayed till about 12 o'clock when an orderly came with an order for us to come in immediately. We started as soon as possible and soon learned that the Rebs had made an attempt to outflank us. Our folks heard of it in season to march back and beat them back but they just missed of getting between us and our camp. 

 

The reason of our starting off so quick at noon is said to have been that the Rebs were trying to cut us off but they missed of that too and we got in with as little loss as any Regiment that went out.

 

Joshua Fieldsend is at Fortress Monroe sick. We have not heard from him since the day we left Gloucester Point. I don't know when he will hear of his sister's death. Perhaps his folks had better write to him, directing to the care of the Medical Director at Fortress Monroe. It is uncertain when he will come back to the Regiment and a letter might be a long time in reaching him if directed to the Regiment.

 

We don't hear much news except that 5 Regts of Cavalry have just come in hav- destroyed 25 miles of railroad below Petersburg. So that place is nearly isolated.

 

Give my respects to Aunt Harriet and all aunts, uncles, cousins and friends who enquire for me.

 

All the Exeter folks are well except / Fieldsend & James Carlisle who has not been very well for a few days past.

 

I am rather tired so will not write any more

                                                                                   

J. W. Clement.

 

Direct as before.

 

Mr. John Clement.

            Exeter

                        N.H.

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