Mills Va. June 5^th, 1864

 

My dear Mother:

                        I wrote to you several days ago from Hanover Junction since which time Grant has continued sneaking and sliding to the left not being able to march over Lee’s army and continue the road he so much desires to travel. After a loss of 90,000 men killed, wounded, and prisoners, we find him 9 miles from Richmond but on his road again. He could have reached this point without losing a man by coming the road McClellan came but he thought that he could easily march over the “conscripts and militia” of the South (as he terms them) and capture Richmond without being under obligation to McClellan or anybody else except U. S. Grant. It must indeed be very humiliating to him to know that not a single step has he driven Lee and to confess at this late hour, that McClellan was the best General of the two. He makes this Confession I think when we find him giving up his original route and adopting McClellan’s. He continues sending flaming dispatches to Washington, presenting the rebels in full retreat. Oh how shocking would it be if they could only see the picture as it really is. Lee’s army in line of battle with the Yankee dead and wounded lying so thick in their front as almost to blacken the ground. In some instances the woods on fire burning the helpless creatures and no effort made by this General to rescue them from this charred death—or if they could see the hogs like Hyinas eating their wounded and dead or see them lying unburied on the field, without their leader asking leave of the rebel Gen’l to have them buried. I say if they could see all this and even more: for them and other facts connected with them, they would turn away in despair of ever conquering the South. Grant has lost more men then every other General in the Confederacy. The present year his whole force counting the re-inforcements he has received will amount to near 200,000 men. It is needless to mention our force but I think he is able to whip Grant in the open field and I would not be greatly surprised if Gen’l Lee don’t place his men in front of Grants works and charge him out of them. This will cause us to lose many men but if Grant tries this Vicksburg plan we will be forced to dislodge him. He has not given us an opportunity to fight him in the open field. Even had Gen’l Lee intended doing so. Two of our guns are on our line—The enemy have thrown up very heavy works immediately in our front not over 100 yards from them. Their Sharpshooters are continually cracking away making it unsafe for one to raise his head above our works. Occasionaly some daring man is killed by them having his brains shot out. I have been up till last night when I came back to get a nights rest. The sufferings, trials, and hardships of this army are inconcievable for the last month. Fighting nearly every day—marching or working by night. If a person lies down during the night they are very fortunate if they are not called upon to be ready to receive the enemy. Firing is kept up nearly all night by the pickets rendering an undisturbed nights rest out of the question. The army thank God are still cheerful and confident of continued success. The enemy have fought bravely under their unfeeling leader. He may bring them up to a charge again upon our entire lines—if they are successfully repulsed I expect the rebel yell to make the air resound and see the “Grand army of the Potomac” making their way to the James River as did the heroes under McClellan. Yesterday our battery lost no men—not being able to fire as no body of men showed themselves. Their flags float proudly in our front. Capt. Carlton was slightly wounded by a fragment of shell in the leg, but not enough to cause him to leave the field. Tell his fathers family he is doing very well. Ed Thomas was struck in the eye which bruised the eye-lid considerable. He is at the wagons but will be able for duty again in a few days. Several others have received slight wounds, but have not been disabled. Our battery sent a list of casualties to the watchman up to date which was published. Some person writes daily to Athens and you need not feel at all uneasy when I do not write, for if I am injured you will hear it from some one. I must close. Firing has been going on since daylight and will continue without interruption till after dark but it amounts to nothing. Give me love to all

 

                                                Your

                                                            C—

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