Camp Winfield Scott Yorktown Plains

Apr 20^th 1865.

 

            Dear Parents-

                                    I wrote you a short letter the other day but think it was not very interesting as I was feeling quite sick then and had to write in a hurry to get it into that mail. I dont want that you should show such letters to everybody. I am feeling very well to day. the boys have all had very bad colds but are getting better of them now. we have had a good deal of bad stormy weather since my return. the last week has been very fine weather up to last night it commenced raining and is raining now (11 o'clock A.M.).

 

My regiment has just come in from picket company I has been supporting a battery that is throwing shells into the rebels every once in about half an hour. the rebels occasionally throw a shell at us doing no damage as yet. Thursday night the 17^th at half past twelve a body of rebels came out it is supposed to take one of our batteries there was very sharp fireing for about fiffteen minutes the rebels falling back. We were drawn up in line of Battle all through our camp. (by the way our camp is only about eight miles long.) we remained in this position about half an hour / when we were ordered to lie down in our places in line we lay there on our arms untill three o'clock A.M. when we were again routed the rebels coming out again were again driven in by our pickets. Last night they came out again and were received as before. My regiment has never been in position to see the rebels and fire at them but we all turn out at every alarm. Tuesday the 15^th our Regiment was out supporting a battery there was a good deal of fireing all along the line the rebels throwed seven shells at our battery all passing over it three striking close to us one bounded over our heads none of them burst if they had some of us would have been hurt. The Chaplain recovered two of the shells (12 pdrs) one he cut out of a pine tree he is agoing to send it home We have just been turned out again sharp fireing at the left but it soon ceased and we are dissmissed to be ready at a moments notice. I have not much more news to write I wrote to Lottie the 18^th but did not quite finish as the mail was ready to start so soon. We have not been paid of yet the last payment was the first of January the boys are nearly every one without money. our Sutler has just arrived he has to bring his stuff from Washington he is selling Butter at forty cents per pound Cheese at thirty everything else in proportion / The most of the boys were without tobbacco for three or four days no Sutlers having got along I was most crazy without it but now we are supplied. You probably have heard that Col. Devens has been promoted to Brigadier General but he is with us yet. I want you should send me some papers once in a while. Give my love to all enquiring friends retaining a good share for yourselves. I will now close hopeing to hear from you soon

 

                                                                        Yours &c I remain

                                                                                    W. W. Bosworth

To S. W. Bosworth

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