[written in another hand: This letter was rec’d from Mr d by his mother after the battle of cedar Mountain it shows the right spirit]

 

                                                                                                Resting on the battle field

                                                                                                            Aug 11^th 1862

 

My dear Mother

                        You have heard of the late fight. I am unhurt and in as good spirits as ever. Our Reg’t suffered very severly—one capton was killed and four severly wounded 4 Lts were wounded.

 

            We we were the last Reg’t off the field and we lost several prisoners

 

While covering the retreat we lay in a cornfield on our faces and our Co had the advantage of a slight elevation of ground, or we should have probably all been anihialated but how we / escaped when we went off the field I dont see. we were exposed to a withering fire and surrounded on three sides. we had exausted all our amunition. we are now in the rear. I will write as soon as I get a chance and send you a detailed Act of the battle. our Reg’t or what remains is now formed into 4 Co’s. Capt Cornell commands the 2^nd or color Co. we have 54 men in it Bater is 1^st Lt his is the remnant of of Co’s D, E, and C.

 

I am the acting orderly serg’t we have no 2^d Lt.

 

We shall have plenty of work but I say “the more the merrier” We are in the best of spirrits and bound for Richmond / we were overpowered by a very superior force as M^cDowell did not come to our support

in the best of spirits and ready for another fight I am your

 

                                    dutiful Son

                                                Edwin G. Davis

SOURCES