8^th July August.

            About 8 o'clock in the morning cannonading begins from our batteries, and is kept up more or less all day, without eliciting but one or two shots from the rebels in reply. In the evening our Regiment goes out in advance, and works all night constructing a new line of works. Bullets from the rebel skirmishers whistled around occasionally but no one was hurt.

 

9^th July Aug.

            Day passes pretty quietly. Nothing of special interest.

 

10^th July Aug

            In the morning the non-veterans of the Regiment left for home. We are sorry to lose them for amongst them are some of our best soldiers, and yet we are glad to see them go, as their time has been out several days. / but through somebody's negligence they have been compelled to remain. With them, I apprehend, joy at the thought of going home mingles with sorrow at breaking up old associations. There were about 150 non-vets. in the Regiment, and this hole with the losses of the campaign now leaves our Regiment small—about 300 men. Our Company has but 26 for duty.

 

            About 8 o'clock received orders to move out into the new line of works. This line is not more than 900 or 1000 yards from the rebel line. We immediately commence strengthening the works, cutting down brush in front, and like work. Soon the rebels opened upon us with a battery that we could see not over half a mile distant. They shelled us at intervals all day and part of the night. We were compelled to keep most of the time close to our ditches. One man in our / Company, Thomas Richards, was hit by a piece of shell, inflicting a severe, though I think not mortal wound. He was the Captain's cook, and had fetched up the Captains supper to him, and was waiting for him to eat when he was hit. Several men were hurt in different Regiments. We commenced the construction of forts of course immediately, and part of our Company was detailed to aid in constructing a bomb proof one. It was a tough day and night on us. It was nothing but constant work, work.

 

11^th July. Aug.

            The Rebs. don't shell us much this morning, directing their attention more to our batteries. Several times there is a very lively firing on the skirmish line, and we think they intend to advance upon us, but the firing soon lulls again to the ordinary cadence /

 

12^th July Aug.

My Dear Mother:

                        To-day if there is opportunity I will send you these few lines. I do not know that I am in need of anything just now. I have not been feeling very well for a day or two. A little rest though I guess will make me all right again.

                                                                       

My love to all

                                                                                    Your Son,

                                                                                                                        George.

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