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...the battle alone pretty soon the blood showed itself in their faces by they drove so away they they they went with a yel saying the ninth was in the front driveing the enemy into their houses twice which were in side of the fort I then went down to report to the Gener^l he then tried to get some of the boys to go back & with him & fight but they would not go so him & myself went back or rather started after traveling about half way up the hil i looked to my righ & saw two sisesh get behind a tree i informed the Gener^l of what i had seen the thoug i was mistaken I saw an Ohio boy a comeing over the hil i toled him to / go along side of the hil & help me take but the got behind a tree i then called to some of the boys that ware a comeing up the path to hurry & help me but they done the same I called them cowards the Gener^l tried to get them to help but of no use so i went up within about thirty steps of them & toled them to surrender or die after some time they came forth to my astonishment there were five some had loaded guns we were defeated after fighting seven hours lost in killed & wounded about about seventy men four out of Co E G & two wounded ten out of the regiment & 16 wounded the sesesh lost 40 killed & one hundred wounded as near / we can learn i marched back to camp that day makeing a march of 42 miles being the third day & night without rest But shocking here comes a mesenger requesting me to report myself & six picked men to the Coloⁿ it is nine Oclock or something near that time So Good by if i should not return. December the 19^th I immediately went to head q^ts at the same time sending for my men whilst a talking with the Coloⁿ he sayed the Gener^l complimented me verry highly saying he was agoing to mention me in his next report to head q^ts i expect it is done by this time & more over he sayed he wished to god he had five hundred such / men. The next Coloⁿ sayed i should lead enny number of men i choose to on the next battle field i wish you would not let enny one but the family see my letters as i would rather they would not know only what they can hear from some other source if i live through i intend to gain honor to myself as i have no other assistance you may send send back that dollar & I wil send you annother we draw our wages New Years

                                                           

So No More at preasant.

                                                           

From Your affet.

brother Wm. H. Peck

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