Harrisons Landing Aug 7^th

 

Dear Sister

Your paper came yesterday and found me on melvin Hill We have been busy about 3 days and nights are are weary now. We retreated last night from Melvin hill back here Went up there day before yesterday Sedwick Hooker Carney and other divisions took the place after a fight in which a few was lost on both sides We captured some prisoners but last night they were heavily reinforced and we beat a hasty retreat its pretty hard to march by night and fight by day We was not to stay in close engagement but on the field ready We came into the field behind some woods / In line of battle the cavalry drove the rebs through the woods and it was not neccessary for us to come into action there. I will relate some little occurrences that transpired while there seen lots Sesesh they are large stout men fight well as our own good looking generaly (them we seen) poorly clothed, no uniforms. them that do have are gray. they come to fight, not to parade a prisoner told where they burried a major on the last retreat our fellows dug it up found $100 insied of coat, nothing but bones Burried 18 inches in corn cobs or rather the nuisance of some Barns. it was Major Howe, I think he was of a Mass Regiment I found some letters of thiers telling about “Shooting Yankees. I have enough of Sojering, but it must Be. they 2 or 3 some say five men to our one, some of our boys came to camp [?] from richmond they say its awful sickly down there I should think men would get tired of human buchery some time. a fellow dont feel like looking at the poor fellows torn and mangled with shot and shell to dark I cant see the lines our boys come from Richmond state that they were used well if they behaved well. We are here today Tomorrow knows not where Convicts in the Penitentiary have bread and water we had some hard crackers with out good watter and was glad to pick up a piece of salt junk tramped half in mud /

 

I picked up some Sesesh Bread shaved it off and put it into some beans I captured out of a farmers barn and had quite a soup out of captured provisions however with out salt. Patriotism is played a great name. ambition, money, Nigger, &c. are the motives which discourage the rank and file of our army. But we will do all we can you need not say any thing to discourage those who desire to come. it is enough for me to know that if the rank and file of this army could say, go home or fight, they would all go home and leave the country go to the devil, or the South their own way because after we do whip them they aint whiped yet, after we do conquer the hearts of the people will be divided forever such is my opinion We will do all we can as it is, trusting in heaven for the better part good night

 

Tell Pa I am safe yet got his letter will write in a day or so

            From Brother Will S

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