July 11/62

Richmond Va. 26 Regt. N.C.T. C^o H

General Ransoms Brigade

 

W^m Deaton

                       

Dear father it has been near 2 weeks since I wrote to you. this morning affords me an opportunity for the first time since the battle of writing I am now in the hospital at Richmond with the mumps but hope I will soon be fit to return to the regiment our armie around Richmond have no tents they generally sleep on the bare ground. I held out and stayed with company during 5 days of the fighting and persueing of the yankees. being overcome by fatigue and sleeping two nights on the wet ground and it also rained and wet us all it caused a headache and fever on me so severe that I could not travel and I was sent to the hospital and after 4 or 5 days the fever left me and the mumps set in immediately. W^m M^cKinnon here in the hospital he has been very sick but I think he is mending a little now John M^cKinnon is with the company.

 

            Our armie attacted M^cClellans forces and and drove from 15 miles of entrenchments and persued him 17 mile within 6 days with / great slaughter in the 6 day fighting the yankees admit a loss 20,000 while the list of our killed will not exceed 8000

 

may the god of battles be our god and protect us from hands of the enemy we thank god for the recent deliverance from the enemy and pray that it may please god to end this war soon we ask an intrest in the prayers of all. we must trust our all in the hands of our maker

 

I must bring my short letter to a close for I have a bad chance to write

 

write soon address Richmond Va Co H 26 Regt N.C.T. Gen'l Ransoms Brigade

                                                                       

your affectionate son

Noah Deaton

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