Near Petersburg Va. May 11^th. 64

           

Dear Home;

                  To-day we are having a little rest and I hasten to let you hear from me. For some days we have been engaged nearly every day and a part of the time quite hotly too. Our brigade has been in the advance and two of the Regts have lost quite heavily. Our Regt. has been in its place all of the time but has not encountered so heavy a fire as the others—our loss has been a few wounded. Thus far we have been successful repulsing the enemy handsomely whenever they attacted us—they left their dead and wounded in our hands. The 25^th Mass. (part of our brigade) / cut the 25^th S.C. all up—more than a hundred of their dead and wounded fell into our hands. We have destroyed several miles of the rail-road between Petersburg and Richmond. This morning we were relieved by the 10^th A.C., Gen. Gilmore and now we are back a few miles from the front. All quiet at that point up to this time, evidently we are waiting the movements of Grant and Lee. We have rec'd papers containing the news that a heavy and successful battle was fought last Thursday and Friday below the Rapidan. The weather is hot—the men are suffering from the effects of the heat. I am all right. Abbie & Wills letters of May 1^st have arrived. Tell Homer that I am going to write to him just as soon as I get where I can. Short letters now.                                                                                             

Charles

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