Harrisons Landing July 9^th 62

 

Dear Sister Agnes

                                                                                                                                    As I have just got from writing materials from Bob I think I will send a few lines homeward I wish I could send myself as easy as I can send a letter. I was very happy to see Bob & to get the package of letters from home & to hear that you are all so well. I have had an awful time since I last got letter from you. I have been in 3 battles & in reserve of two others I have not not time nor space to describe them to you but if I was home I could tell you a volume. I think it is a miracle that I have escaped for I have been places where the bullets were coming seemingly as thick as hail & shells & solid shot lighting & bursting all around / me. You must not attribute it to Cowardice that I was not shot for whenever our Regiment was ordered in I was in my place all the time the regt ws in line & in front whenever it broke line I never fired my gun off behind any man & never without taking aim the result is not mine to tell. This I state just to do myself justice not from any disposition to bragg Men are just as likely to get shot while skulking in the rear as they are to be in front I took 3 prisoners at one time myself. some fellows had taken them before but as we were retreating & I had been forward I nabbed the boys & made them come along pretty quick. I would like to give you all the incidents of the battle but that is impossible & so you can form an idea by just / telling you a few things. I have just come back from Bobs quarters He is quite well. I was surprised when I saw him first he was so fat unlike the rest of us who are all so thin & brown. He appears to take things very easy. You must tell Jeanie that I never got thought of getting her a chain on the battle field I was too much taken up with something else. Tell Mother that she cannot want to see me more than the "tall boy" wants to see her. I am thoroughly tired of war I have seen it in all its horrid reality & it appears to me wonderful why there should be war. If they all hated fighting as bad as I do myself I think there would be none. We aint spoiling for a fight anymore Thats a sure sign of green / troops. When we have to fight I am sure we will do our duty The Rebel General Longstreet came from Richmond on the day we had our last fight with 30,000 men on purpose to annihilate the Penna Reserves but he did not do it & went back with some thousands less than he came with. They dont publish ½ of our losses in the papers. The Rebels by their own admission lost 24,000 in killed wounded & missing on the first two days fight. Now when you remember that there was only 8000 of the Reserves you may think we gave it to them pretty hard. Well I must quit writing. Give my love to all at home & respects to all my friends & believe me to be as ever

 

                                                            Your Affectionate Brother

                                                                                    Hugh Fraser

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