Camp of the 14^th N.J. Vols.   

Near Petersburg, Va. March 26^th/65

 

My Dear Parents,

                        No doubt 'ere you receive this the papers will have informed you that we have had the first Battle of Spring and it will be glorious news for you learn that your Boy is by the blessing and kind mercies of God still spared without a scratch and in good health. It is needless for me to give you a very lengthy detail of the engagement which commenced on yesterday morning.

 

            Gen^l U.S. Grant & Co. arranged a trap for the enemy in front of the 3^rd Division 9^th A.C. and the enemy took advantage of the opening which was made in our lines and after they marched into this Yankee trap our troops kept falling back until we could bring our batteries to bear fully upon their / advancing columns, then gave them particular fits in the shape of grape & canister, and they went back howling but not without leaving a large number of prisoners in our hands. not long after this transpired in the centre, the Second Corps attacked the enemy on the left, but I am not positive with what success they have met with. soon after the Second Corps engaged, our Corps charged the left centre after charging twice in which we lost but one man wounded out of our Regiment, we captured the enemys first line of works, capturing their entire Picket line and still hold the line. The most part of the Rebel Pickets never fired a gun, but stood in their works until they were taken by the shoulder and led back to our Provost Guards, and taken off to the rear. some ran into our line soon after we started on the second charge.

 

            Every Regiment but ours seemed to suffer / pretty hard. I expect if the weather continues fair we will give them another turn in a few days. Phil Sheridan is somewhere around these parts, but he dont show himself. he will turn up where the Johns least expect him and give them a little a little of Phil and they will get their fill, if they dont give up this war pretty soon.

 

            We are anxiously awaiting Gen^l Sherman & Schofield then how are you Lee & Davis. you had better make tracks.

 

            I can assure you this Rebellion is getting squeezed down to a mere nothing and it fills our hearts with thanksgiving to the God of Battles for our great and telling victories over our national enemy. May God bless us all and prepare us for the glorious end. The Boys are all joyful and ready at all times to do their duty. There is no reason why we should not fight with a willingness never before felt or known by us, for we have every encouragement to march on & do / our duty like men, remembering our old Revolutionary Fathers, of the hardships, privations & difficulties they encountered before they accomplished their just and glorious cause.

 

            today is the 26^th day of March. I expect you are feeling uneasy about moving by this time, for it is almost the first of April. we had to move to so we are ahead of you, but we are back again in our old camp and now I will bring this to a close, hoping soon to hear from you my kind regards to friends & your neighbors I remain your loving Son with a happy wish for your well being and a blessing from on High rest & abide with you

                                                           

Your Dear Son

Al

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