Head Quarters 3^rd Brig. 1^st 10^th Corps

Near Curtis Va

June 4^th 3 A.M.,1864

 

My Dear Parents,

                        Being called out for an hour, and having nothing to do but to keep awake, I have could nothing better than to write you a few lines, that is, if I do not get to sleepy, in which case I shall have to get up and walk for a while.

 

            Day before yesterday was a day of excitement the enemy attacked our lines and made a good deal of noise with his artillery shelling us, but the fight was all among the pickets. the loss in our brigade was some forty killed wounded and missing, from the eleventh Maine the regiment that was on picket last night yesterday all was quiet until eleven o'clock, just one hour after I had / lain down for the night. when the pickets commenced firing at a great rate soon we came to see what was the matter, was up around until about 12 when they seemed to quiet down, and we turned in again and slept until three when we were all turned out, and as it was all quiet it was thought unnecessary for more than one to stay up and I being requested to set up until four o'clock and thus accounted for as being here writing at this early hour.

 

            We could hear Grant all day yesterday pounding away at them, until last evening from about seven until 8½ o'clock there was the most incessant and rapid canonade kept up I ever heard it was just like volleys of musketry. I think there must have been a battle going on over there. Notwithstanding the accounts from rebel papers that Lee is driving Grant and to getting him past where he wants him and so on, Grant is all the time getting nearer Richmond and he is now getting uncomfortably near, and they begin to acknowledge that they have underrated his ability as a general, and do begin to entertain very strong fears that Lee will not be able to withstand Grants advance. we get rebel papers here almost every day. one we got of the 30^th of May was worrying very much about Sherman and his supplies, that if he advanced any further he would not be able to get up his supplies, and would never be able to get back, and seemed to be very much troubled for his welfare and that of his army, much more troubled than he himself was, for I see by the papers of the second that we recieved last night that he is still advancing victoriously and that Johnsons army was / leaving his front in great haste

 

            I was quite unwell day before yesterday, but was better yesterday and guess I shall feel pretty smart to day able to eat my rations of roast beef again. I have not recieved any promotion am on detailed temporarily as acting Aide De Camp on the Staff of Colonel H M Plaisted of the 11^th Maine Regt. who is commanding the Brigade of which our regiment forms a part

 

I have very easy times, and no picket or guard to do only to carry orders and see them properly executed. I am considered lucky by other officers in being thus detailed I guess I will close now and go and get another nap before breakfast. William wishes me to say he is well and wishes to be remembered to you all I recieved a letter from you last evening and a paper. With much love to all

                                                           

I remain your son

William

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