Head. Qurs. 'E' Co. 38^th Wis. Vols.

Camp near Peebles House Va

Oct 31^st 1864.

 

My Dear Friends.

                        Do you know that it is over three long weeks since I have received a letter from you? yes three long weeks.—I have wondered and guessed over and over again, what the reason could be why I have not received any letters from Home. "Are they sick? or are they so busy that they can hardly find time to eat. they must have written, for they never delay so long without they are sick."—is what I say to my self after going after the mail, but find no letter directed to me with the familiar stamp of "Appleton Wis" on it.

 

            Prehaps you have secured my last dated Oct 26 and are waiting to hear from me again before you write, but then you forget the 3 weeks that have passed, without any letters being written—But why complain, I am not the only one. there are many others who have not received any for some time. I heard one Lieut. say to day that he thanks fortune that he had "so much buisness on hand that it took up most all of his time, and he did not have any letters to answer.—Well here it is 9 oclock P.M. and this is not finished. my excuse for stoping was I had to get the company out for dress parade, which took untill supper time, and that came next. after that I had the usual running around to do before I could sit down again, so the "letter" / had to be delayed.

 

            Prehaps you would like to know how it is that we are so soon back in camp again, but you must see that we have been since Saturday back here. Well, Thursday morning we struck tents at 3 A.M. and pulled out towards the left. we got just to our picket line when we halted and let some troops pass us to get into their pontoons in line. just daybreak we moved forward and immediately commenced skirmishing with the enemy, driveing them back to their works. it was about noon before we got them all back. sometimes we would almost run right onto their works and their batteries would open on us with shot and shell with a "right smart" of grape & canister mixed along with the other. There were trees cut off that by their shells & solid shot that were 10 inches in diameter, right over our heads, letting the tops down on us. About noon, as I said, we got into position and layed down in easy range of their works, but as we were in a thick woods, they did not disburb us, only once in a while. their skirmish line would let in a whole volley, but their shots most all went over. about 4 P.M. we had orders to throw up a line of work, where we were. All went to work with a will and soon we had a line of breast works that would defy any of the "Johnies" bullets, that did not come from anything heavier than a six pounder. As a matter of course it commenced to rain about 2 P.M. which made it very disagreeable and uncomfortable, but it was a thing that invariably happened whenever we moved, rain as hard as it could. The way the line of battle was formed we were on the right by the 5. Corps—properly speaking—the 5 Corps on our left and the 2 Corps on the left of the 5.—so we were to the right of where the heavy fighting was. on the morning of / the 27 we went to work and strengthened our line, but soon the order was countermanded and orders given for the men to remain under arms, ready to move at any moment. we layed We remained here in this position untill about noon, when we were ordered to withdraw very quietly. the line were "about faced" and started back. we kept up a very good line, halting often to wait for our skirmish line.

 

            We got back to our old camping grounds about a sun down. The loss in the Regiment was five wounded, none from my company.

We all feel considerably better now, as every one was expecting a heavy fight here on the left as soon as we moved on the South side railroad, but things turned out diferently. The opinions here are that if they had not found the rebels so strongly fortified there would have been a general asault along the lines here on the left, but now I dont think that we will move untill after election. I received the other day a large package of Coperhead tickets from Milwaukee, which I threw into the fire. My boys would take it as an insult for me to offer any of them—so thinking that it would not be best to add insult to injury I burnt them. "Little Mack" has completely "played out" (as the saying is) here—Honest Old Abe is the man that will receive the votes of this regiment, and of the whole army. I dont think that there are any doubt but what he will be elected by an overwhelming majority—then Death to Traitors both North and South.

 

            As it is getting late and I have to get up quite early (5 A.M.) I think that I had better close and go to sleep. Hopeing to hear from you before "This cruel war is over"

                                                                                   

I remain as ever Your

Frank M. Phelps

1^st Lt Comdg "E" Co

 

write write write                                                                     

write    write                                                                                        

W-r-i-t-e Soon                                                                        

SOURCES