Cobb's Hill

near Petersburg, Va.

May 21^st 1864

 

My own dear Louisa

                                    I wish to take advantage of the first leisure moments I have had this week to talk a little with you.

 

            I never have had so much to do as during the week which ends to-night.

 

            On Sunday evening last I wrote you from the woods near Fort Darling, Va.

 

            At day break next morning in a dense fog the enemy, who had been heavily re-inforced during the night, from Richmond, headed by Jeff Davis, Beauregard and Bragg, and got on the right flank and rear of my line which was nearest to the front and in a very short time overwhelmed one of my brigades and broke it. Being quickly re-inforced by two regiments I checked them on the right. My whole left never gave way but repulsed three separate and distinct charges of the enemy.

 

            Louisa, I never have been under such fire, nor have I ever seen more / men slaughtered so. The rebels came on to my line in dense masses, determined to drive me, and they were just piled up in heaps. During the night before I had made my men make log breastworks in front of their line, and then I made them take some telegraph wire and stretch it along my whole front near the ground, winding it firmly around stumps &c.

 

            The rebels came on to charge my breastworks. Every time they came to the wire, as it was so foggy they stumbled and fell over it and then I peppered it to them.

 

            About 250 surrendered to me crying out when they were down, "Don't shoot, I'll surrender".

 

            They captured quite a lot of that brigade of mine which they broke on my right. They captured the Brig. Gen^l commanding that brigade. I narrowly escaped capture and death a / hundred times. It makes the perspiration run out of me when I think of it. You can judge how close the fighting was. I rescued with my revolver on my horse one of my men, whom a rebel had as prisoner, and was taking to the rear. Oh how glad this man was. The rebel surrendered to me. So I rescued one and captured a rebel. I rather turned the tables on Mr. Reb. He felt it quite a honor he said to be captured by a General in person.

 

            Every body has heard of it and it has been quite a pleasant episode in this bloody battle.

 

            I had 1350 men killed wounded and taken prisoner. We fought about seven hours.

 

            As we had accomplished all we went out for and General Kautz had returned with his cavalry, we came back here on Monday evening. I was the rear guard with my command. We were not molested in the least.

 

            The rebels have been since that time again re-inforced and yesterday they came close on us, and are now / right near us. We may have a hard fight any moment. We are getting ready for it.

 

            Last night, General Butler sent for me and told me that he must have me near him. That he wanted me near him so that I could aid him and give him my advice and he appointed me at once his Chief Engineer. So that I now am on Genl Butler's staff. The truth is that he did not know how to manage so large an army and wants me to help him.

 

            I wont be in so much danger now but I would rather command a division. But General Butler says I will do more service to the country with him. So, all right.

 

            Give my love to all. Tell Mother and Mrs. Moor to write me only one letter and then I will be satisfied. I have written them several. Your devoted

Godfrey

 

Only one kiss for you to-day. I am very tired.

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