Near Jerusalem. Plank Road

                        South of Petersburg, Va.

                                    Sep^t 14^th 1864.

 

Dear Friend Edward.

                        Your letter dated July the 3^rd was received on the 9^th of the same month. On the 3^rd ins^t I received another dated August 28^th. I was glad to hear from you both times, but we have been moving around so much I have not had an opportunity to wite to any of my esteemed correspondents…John Westfall Paul Quay and Sanford Merselis are missing we think they are prisoners. Elias is here he is well…I could fill six sheets full telling you of the marches we have made and about other things since I / wrote to you last. But I have not time to write it. We do not know what minute we will get orders to move. we have our things packed up most of the time…The 2^nd Corp’s marches the farthest and fastest of any corps in the army. We have been up near Richmond twice. The last time we went the rebels sent troops from Petersburg to keep us out of that rebellious city and the 5^th Corp’s took the Weldon R.R. away from them. That was a great blow to them They have made several desperate attempts to retake it but have not succeeded. I guess they never will for our forces are strongly fortified there. They have to come out and fight us on our chosen ground They have only one R.R. left / The left wing of Gen^l Grant’s army is 30 miles South of Richmond & about 9 miles from that R.R. Great preparations are being made every day to attack the rebels. hundred’s of recruits are coming to the army every day….We have a R.R. completed from City Point to the forts on the Weldon R.R. It runs through our army and brings up our rations, amunition, &c. It will save our little mules a great deal of hard pulling. The iron horse is better able to pull than they are, and the beauty is he will not get tired. Gen^l Grant means to hang on to Lee’s army until he destroys it. The rebs hate Grant because he will not give them any rest. They say he will not give them time to cook…Tell everybody / to support Lincoln & Johnson if they want the war to end soon, and honorably to the Nation If Lincoln is elected the rebels will be discouraged. they do not want the honest unbending man there. A battle is raging on our right to day. I think it is in front of the 18^th Corp’s. We were in a terrible battle on the 25^th of August at “Reams station”. I suppose you have read accounts of it. The 7^th NY Infantry ran and let the rebels flank us…Give my respects to all inquiring Friend’s. I am enjoying good health at present…With much respect I am Your Friend,

                                                                                    Stephen R. Whitney.

                                                                        7^th Reg^t N.Y.H. Artillery

                                                                        4^th Brig. 1^st Div. 2^nd Corp’s.

                                                                                                Washington. D.C.

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