Bermuda Hundred Va

Monday, June 6, 1864.       

   

Yesterday while on picket I rec^d your letter of the 2^d inst and this morning I got the Ballot & Traveller of the 26^th & 28^th insts. papers it seems not travelling quite so fast as letters. I was glad to hear that you were all got in so good health, and that you had received my stockings. I think I must have paid enough postage on them (17 cts) as a man told me this morning that he only paid 28 cts on a pair of boots, but it dont make any difference as the stamps were old ones and not good for much.

 

On the 29^th ult. two ladies (said to be a mother and daughter from Baltimore) rode past our camp giving cakes to the soldiers. On the 30^th the Rebs opened on us at about 6 P.M. and kept it up about ½ an hour. we lay in the trenches all / night.

 

On the 31^st at about 2 PM they opened again, we lay in the trenches about an hour and a half and that night we went on picket. The Rebs kept very quiet till about 3 o'clock June 1^st when they opened a furious cannonading for about ½ an hour. we went into camp and then went and lay in the trenches again as there was some picket firing about 8 P.M.

 

On the morning of the 2^d the Rebs made a dash on our pickets capturing about 60 men from the 7^th Conn. Regt. including Major Rodman. they however had a South Carolina Colonel killed and it said another wounded. They took possession of a part of our rifle pits, but our Regt. charged on them in the afternoon and took them back again with the loss of 2 men killed & 6 wounded. I was not in the charge as I happened to be detailed for fatigue duty that day; we were at work on a fort outside our line of breastworks and the shot & shell flew over our / heads in both directions for about an hour rather briskly. one of the fatigue party was wounded by a piece of shell from one of our own guns. None of our Company were hurt. That night we lay in the trenches again, and it rained all night.

 

On the 3^d we were on fatigue again and at night lay in the trenches. We heard some very heavy firing after dark on the north side of James River.

 

On the 4^th we were on picket at night and were relieved last night about 8 o'clock. About 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon a sharp cannonading commenced and lasted about an hour the shot & shell flew over our heads, but none of the picket were hurt, but one man in camp was wounded.

 

I forgot to state in my last that Mr Carver was sick, he was sent to the hospital a few days ago, I dont think he is dangerously sick as he walked into camp day- / before-yesterday and back to the hospital. All the other Exeters are well enough to be about and that is all we can say of anybody here now.

 

I wish you had sent the paper and envelopes as I had to borrow an envelope to send this in.

 

It rains here almost every day, but to-day it is quite warm.

 

We have none of us heard from Jacob Smith who we left in Florida sick with the small pox.

 

I have not seen Uncle Thomas since I wrote last, but am expecting to every day.

 

Give my respects to Aunt Harriet, & cousins and finally to all who enquire for me.

 

I see that Gen. Butler has issued an order that no bodies shall be taken up till the first of October. I suppose none will be taken up anywhere till that time.

 

Yours             

J. W. Clement

 

Mr John Clement        Exeter N.H.                             

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