June 8, 1862

 

Dear Friend,    Seven Pines so called, seven or eight miles from Richmond. But Colcord and I were carried to the white house landing hospital May 27^th. it is twenty five miles from here, so we were not in the battle of Sunday, the first. our Regiment was cut up badly. there were four of our company killed and ninteen wounded. our company and company C. were on picket, right on a line with the rebels, they had two regiments, our Captain supposing them to be some of our men thought he would take six men and go up to their camp so he did. he went right into the rebel camp says he, what regiment do you belong to, says they what do you belong to, says our Captain what do you belong to. one of them then made answer, one was Texas the other was the second Mississippi. our Captain says all right here, right about face and marched off. that is what I call a cool opperation. that was the night before our regiment went into/action our brigade general had his arm shot off. our Colonel and major are both wounded. the wounded are all carried north. there is a battle to day. there is some pretty sharp fireing. our regiment is about a mile and a half from here. the reason why Bub and I are not in it is because we have been dreadful sick, and hav’nt got our strength up. they draged us along for a fortnight. some-times they hauled us and some times they hauled our stuff and we got along the best we could. I would say to you that Colonel Langley is the coolest man I ever saw. after the other officers were carried off the field they told me he sat on his horse and gave every order as cool and distinct as though he had been at work in the field a haying. the balls were a flying about his head like hail stones. when he brought the regiment out of the action he had his pipe in his mouth a smoking.

 

                                                                        This from—

J. Durgin

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