Bermuda Hundred

                                                                                                                        May 28^th 1864

 

My Darling.

                        It is one of the most beautiful mornings that the Sun ever shone upon & we are in a pretty locality Yesterday we moved from the intrenchments back here some 2 miles to the rear There are some few thousand of us thus detached from the rest for what purpose I don’t know but think we have got something to do somewhere It has been pretty quiet with the 21^st since the great battle of the 16^th We have been busly intrenching ourselves we have made two reconoisances to the front. One the 25^th the last the 26^th when Col Dalton was severely wounded The first day He only took/the 21^st with him. The position we were to reconoiter lay through dense woods. The Col. not being satisfied with what he learned the first day took his whole Brigade with him on the 26^th By the way I had not written you that he had command of a Brigade took command the next day after the battle. Consists of the 21^st. 58 P.V. & 188 P.V.) After crossing a deep ravine we pursued the same course as on the day previous The Col. being ahead with the skirmishers. After proceeding some 1 1/2 miles fell in with the Reb pickets & the Col was wounded by their first shot The ball entered his neck & came out through his cheek cutting his tongue & shattering his jaw Just as he was wounded we received orders to fall back Our boys/carried the Col. off the field He is now in Washington Gen. Devins commands the Brigade We have not yet heard from any of our missing in the fight

 

            It is hard times for Soldiers now. There are very few but what will have to indure some hardships this summer Grant will not suffer many to remain idle I feel to thank God that I have been so fortunate so far Never was such a war ever known before where there were so many hard battles fought People at home realize but little of it

 

            I wrote you immediately after the battle but have received no letter yet possibly you may have now received my letter/

 

I have received no letter from you since May the 8^th 20 days ago The mail comes regularly every day others receive letters to cheer them in four days after they are written at home North Stonington must have forgotten their boys at the war for we do not receive more than 2 or 3 letters in the mail for them. They are planting & doing other farm work without a thought of us while many lie bruised & bleeding John wished me to inquire if any of the Dea folks were able to write He not having heard from them for over a month. You must know that our advantages are few for writing I carry my paper in my Cartridge Box & you will see it is badly soiled Good bye God bless & protect my Darling Love to mother Don’t worry about your son God will spare him to you                            Court

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