Before Petersburg Aug 16^th/64

                                                                        Field Hosp. 3^d Div 9^th A.C—

 

Mariette.         Dear Cousin.

                                                It has been a long time since I wrote you and “do” since I heard from you direct.

 

I take it for granted that I am excusable for not writing oftener on the ground that I am employed in uncle Sams service. he keeps me pretty busy. tis said you know that a poor excuse is better than none

            Mariette Ive no news to write you so dont make up your mind for an inteligent letter and be disapointed ‘twill be just two months to night since our Corps came here. have been ingaged in three charges during the time and met with heavy losses/the last batle, on the thirtyeth of July we gained nothing. but lost 5642 men. twas a poorly mangged affair. I suppose If Grants designs were fully carried out that we would have had possession of Petersburg and the hights beyond. but the is a nigger in the fence somewhere we have too many Generals fighting for laurals.—

 

Aug 20^th. Well we’ve been having some more hard fighting and are so far meeting with good success. We have turned the enemies right wing so that our left wing is directly west of Petersburg. we drove them about a mile & a half to day. have quite a good many prisoners 250 went by here this morning and 300 this afternoon they tell tell us that Lee says that he/will have possession of the Wheeling R.R. which we took yesterday if he has to sacrifice his whole army he has mad 9 charges on us to day—and met with a heavy loss each time. the 9^th Corps has mooved around to the left and nearly half of the hospital tents. the Surgeons have all gone. my Reg. were taken prisoners last night but cut their way out bringing with them some 50 rebs. We cannot say how twill turn out but my opinion is that if they save their bacon they have got to play smart. the 2^d Corps from Butlar’s Army have gone up to reinforce them to night/

 

My last letter that I recieved from home was mailed the 11^th, the folks were all well but Charley. he has the Ague occasionally. they complain of the drouth. it has been very dry here this summer for the past week we have had a surplus of rain I am still emploied in the hospital my health is quite poor but am doing duty yet. we have been here ever since the 16^th of June—over two months, we have good ration and hard fighting. If you will give me Sabins and Geo. dA Ad. I will write them. no more at present. remember me to all and dont forget to remember to write to your Cousin

                                                                                    Myron

                                                                        Co. H. 8^th Mich. Infty.

                                                                                    3^d Div 9^th A.C.

                                                                                                Washington D.C.

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