Camp in the Woods near

York Town.                                                                                         April 20 1862

 

                                                                                    Dear Friend at Hom I now take my pincle in hand to write to you to let you know that I am well I got your letter this morning and was glad to hear from Home once more this is a rainey Day here with as it rained all night last night we are here not far from the Rebels our carnons are placed out in a open Field just before the Rebbel Fort we have made some breasts works for our carnons to be placed behind we have to work to make them in the night so the Rebels cant see us to fire in to us thear was one hundred men detailed out of our Reg last Friday night to work building fortifations 10 men out of each Comp I went for one thear was bought a thousand men in all we wear in reach of the Rebbels gunes they could not see us no lightes a lowed not eaven a mach we had quite a fight last Wensday in the afternoon

 

our Reg was back a little out of it / in cace if we should be needed thear weas onley 3 Reg in it 3 & 4 & 6 they have to cross a crick to get to thear Fort the 6 & 3 crossed it they hate to waded it it was bout 4 feet deep the way our sheels flew in to thear Fort was a coartion they did not fire but a few sheels they cold not stay in thear Fort they have not got meny guns in thear Fort We have got the gunes that will be enough for them I think it was a tearable time for bout 2 or 3 hours thear was a stidy stream of musketery for some time the 3 & 6 Reg got prety badley cut up thear were a great meny killed & wounded brought of the Field Capt Artherton of the 4 Reg was wounded in the hip & neck John Buckley was wounded below his knee Father you wanted to know wheather I had got meny papers from you or not I have not got bout to papers from you I beleave since I came out here but the Dyes get theirs every week so I have a chance to see one every week bout you say Mr Mason says that it is the best way to Direct letter to Washington I have writen to Seneca Howe I got a letter from Byron a week ago / to day I have answered it Byron said that they had got moved he says that he is a gowing to work out by the day this summer they wear all well Mother I got my last letter with the gum & 1 Doler in money all right you have not writen wheather Jery Mergoin has moved ar not I do not know how long this will last I hope we shall get Home this Fall I have writen bout all I can think of I do not want to have you weary & make booth your selves sick a bout me for if I should go in to a battle & get wounded thear is men to take us of on streaches Sargent are redy to take care but I hope that we may not have to fight much but we in listed for that porpace I hope that I may live to see you all a live in this wirld if not we must live for the next we had to men killed in our Reg one by a ball & one by a peace of shell that went & bursted over our heads

I must draw my letter to a close by bidding you a good bye my respects to all

 

                                                                                                            write often & soon

                                                                                    from your son L. W. Haven

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