Newbern Dec 21^st 1862.

 

Brother A.

                        I have written a letter to Mother tonight to let them know that I am still spared, after two severe battles.

 

                        We left here on the 10^th and arrived here again today. We have had a severe time of it, and I did not wish to tell Mother much of our troubles, so I gave her a rather indefinite account. I will give you a slight idea of the horrors of war. We had a force of about twenty thousand men including cavalry, and about one hundred pieces of artillery. On the first day of our march, there was but little of interest occured. The second day our cavalry killed some of the scouts of the enemy and our progress was checked by trees which the rebels felled across the road. Nothing of much interest happend until last Sunday the 14^th. We were advancing on Kingston and at about ten or rather earlier our artillery began to shell the woods in advance and found the rebels as thick as flies in the woods. Our regiment being in advance except one already engaged and the 23^d. we were ordered forward and filed into a swamp where the mud was more than knee deep. The rebels opened fire though there was not one to be seen. We replied to it, in good style. soon they poured an awful volley upon us and we were ordered to lie down and load and fire as we could. you may think it a hard place to stretch out, but a man wont mind that a great deal when bullets are singing around his head. /

 

No doubt you think you can imagine what a battle is but until a person is engaged in one, he can tell nothing about it. God grant we may never have another. The firing was mostly on the left of the swamp but it soon ceased there and we obliqued to the right, and got on the side of a knoll, when they fired from in front. We laid down again and loaded and fired as fast as we could. After we had been here a short time they opened fire again on the left and we were under a cross fire, and the balls fairly rained in upon us. Something struck me or my face but cut only deep enough to draw a little blood. My left hand man was shot mortally and several others. After the fight had continued some time, the rebels commenced shelling us. this was awful. One shell burst within a few feet of me, and I saw several poor fellows thrown on their backs by it. We were in the swamp some time unsupported; but the 10^th Conn. came in, and fought like tigers. The fight lasted about two hours, it seemed, but they say four. We had no idea of time as long as the fight lasted. The rebels finally retreated and our artillery threw shot and shell after them as long as they could reach them. After shelling the town, our troops entered and encamped for the night. Next morning we left for White Hall, and arrived on the 16^th Tues. We were ordered to support a battery and laid down in front, and they fired over us; the rebels were not so careful as many of our men can bear witness. Frank Allen was wounded slightly on the back of his neck. The fire here was terrible. We kept this position through the battle. /

 

As soon as the fighting ceased at White Hall, we marched again toward Goldsborough. We arrived at Goldsborough on the 17^th, and our artillery commenced destroying the railroad bridge. this was the object of the expedition. The bridge is about two miles or so on this side of Goldsborough. The fighting here was mostly done on our side with artillery and our regiment took no part in it. The rebels charged on one of our batteries two or three times across the pontoon bridge they built but were mown down in heaps by our artillery, which threw grape and canister. Imagine what a man's feelings are when he sees his comrades carried by him, mutilated so he can scarcely recognize them, and you have one picture of war.

 

            Every night we encamped in some open field and tore down fences or any thing else we could find for fires. Sometimes we had plenty to eat and sometimes we didn't. One day we lived on sweet potatoes which we stole, or foraged, from the secesh. Wherever we found hogs, cattle, horses, or anything else, we took it for our own use.

 

            At the battle of Kingston, I lost all I had, rubber blanket, woolen do., overcoat, and haversack; my haversack contained my rations, a pair of nice woolen socks, gloves, and other things necessary on a march. As I am now short of socks, I wish Mother would send one, or rather two pairs, and S. H. Ferguson is sending home for some also, so they better send in one box and save expense. I found plenty of coats and blankets after the fight, so I got supplied. Since we have seen and felt the hardships of a soldiers life, I am thankful that you are at home, having many pleasant times, and doing as much good as you could here. I do not think you would stand soldiering at all.

 

            We do not know what is coming next, for we hear all sorts of stories in camp; some say we are to leave here this week; but if that be so, I could not travel, as my feet are blistered so I cant do it. Our head quarters no doubt will be here as long as we remain in this part of the state. Almost all our men are foot sore, and walk like a set of cripples.

 

Tues 23^d. I received a letter from you yesterday, mailed the 17^th. This is the second one I have received from you, since we came here, and I have received only one from home. I think I have written from twelve to fourteen to you all, and I hope now to receive some in return. If I had a disposition like many I should get blue, but I think you care something about me yet; if you do not, there is yet one consolation, and that is that you wont miss me so much. I wish you would ask the folks at home to let me know how many letters they have written to me, and then if they will number their letters and you too I can tell how we stand. I want you to write often, and then if some of them are lost I shall still get some of them.

 

            I will write as often as I can get a chance. A young fellow is sitting here with me tonight who was at Kingston and a shell came in and burst about two feet from him, and the only damage he received was to get burnt with the powder. I was within a few feet of him at the time. The fire at Kingston was called as severe as has been known in the heavy battles of Virginia. We are almost sick when we think of those scenes.

 

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If I had a chance, I'd send you a Secesh pipe; I got it at Kingston. /

 

You may wish to know something of our loss in the battles. Our regt lost seventy six in killed and wounded. The 23^d about forty or fifty. The 10^th Conn lost in the fight at Kingston one hundred and fifteen. The loss in other regiments lost many was considerable but I can give no correct account.

 

            Tomorrow I am to have a pass to the city: the first since I came here.

 

            Last night I was on picket duty, and after all the duties of the past two weeks, I feel considerably used up. Capt Denny and Lieut Pond gave me credit for doing my duty in the late battles. I hope we may have no occasion again, to use any such means: it seems as though enough blood had been spilt and new graves enough been made, to settle this or any other war.

 

            It is now nearly nine P.M. and I feel as though I have written enough of this stuff.

 

            Wed 24^th We have had no drill since we came back and have hardly a man fit for duty. In one Co, forty nine, are reported sick in our Co about thirty.

 

            A schooner has arrived here loaded with boxes for the soldiers, and many here will enjoy a Christmas dinner from home.

 

            We miss having a day of rest here as much as most any one thing. All days seem alike, in the army.

 

            I have no gloves now, so if Mother will send a pair with the socks, they wont come amiss.

 

            Give my love to all and write soon and let me have all the news.

             M.

 

The Manchester boys are tip top, and did first rate in both our engagements. Some of them expect to get boxes today, and if they do, we'll have a gay old time.

 

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I had a good breakfast this morning, hard bread and molasses.

 

I saw Dick a day or two since, and we joked about some of the Salem folks and so on, and had quite a pleasant time.

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