St Mary Springfield Landing

                                                May 30^th 1863

 

Dear Alf,

 

                        A steamer goes down to the city to night and I take this opportunity to drop you a line – Springfield L.  the plase from which I write is about four miles from Port Hudson and in the rear of the left wing of our camp – we have been here three days and during that time have witnessed all the horrors of battle with out partaking of its excitement – Banks and Augum having formed a junction attempted to carry the enemys works by storm two days ago – It is needless for me to tell you the result you will know it before you receive this letter the effort was unsuccessful but it was from no lack of bravery on the part of our troops. Three times our colors were planted on the Parapet of their north and our men were up to the muszle of the enemys guns – but the terrible fire that swept the plains so thinned their numbers that they were obliged to face back – our loss is very heavy We will not face short of 3000 killed and wounded – Very few prisoners were taken on either side- we have lost very many valuable officers – Three General Officers & six Colonels fell at the first attack – am aggrer  in saying that the fighting was magnificent – greater bravery could not have been displayed by men – The Negro regiments, of which there were two, have disappointed every one – and have called forth the poorest of the whole army – they fought like vetions  and have finally settled the question as to their fighting qualities – The 2^nd Reg. N. Y. _____ lost one third of their numbers – and of the 159^th (Col Malineaux) there is only 154 effective men left – The wounded are coming in very fast – as they arrive they are laid out under the trees to await transportation to Baton Rouge – A wound is a serious thing in this climate and these men suffer fearfully.  But I never saw such fortitude in my life – they have taught me a lesson which I shall remember – Old Dr Yuken the Medical Director told me to day that he had been in fourteen battles but that he had never seen men behave as these do – I have only heard one man groan.  among the fifteen hundred that have been brought in – and he was a poor farm boy from Connecticut whose leg had been shattered by a graps shot and who had lain two days in the sun with undressed wounds – But enough of the pomp & circumstance of glorious war – a battle is a very fine thing as long as the fighting lasts – I have been trying hard to get to the front, but my leeters­­­­ here have prevented me – I want to see the plase taken for it will fall, and that within eight days-------------I have just been called to see a friend of mine who arrived a few minutes ago in an ambulance from the field. A Lieutenant in the 25^th Com. shot through the thigh – he was hard to recognize – without his cap. His uniform torn and covered with dust & dirt he did not much resemble the man I parted with only a week ago – He was in good spirits with it – could I do anything for him – “No” -  said he “_____ I would not care a damn about the affair but when I fell a dozen men trampled on me and I lost my revolver” – and I thought over that that fell on would look plaese when the time came------

            I hope that you are all well.  I have received but three letters from home since I have been out here – the last was dated April 1^st I believe the fault must be with the P.O. – you can look for me the latter part of this month –

                                                            Love to all.  In haste------

                                                                        Charley

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