Chickahomeny Virginia June 12/62

 

Dear wife I suppose you have seen by the papers that our Division has ben badley cut up on saturday the 31 the Rebels actacked on our Division with a force estimated at from 50 to 75 thoussand of their best troops they came with full determination to brake through the line but they did not the line was thicker than they supposed our Division has ben much reduced by sickness & a long [?] march I dont think we numberd over 6000 at the time of the actack & a large portion of them out on Picket Guard Our Regiment was all on Picket but three small Company we went on to the field with 93 men 26 of that num was kild or wounded / one of my Color Guards was shot six of the 8 was hit But not badley ingured I had my Flag staf shot off & 11 holes shot through the Flag none hit me the enemy out flanked us on both sides so we had to fall back or bee surrounded our little band did not have orders to fall back enny to soon to save them selfs on Sunday June first the fight was renewed and the Rebels was driven back so our troops held the ground that we lost the day before I was paid off yesterday we have ben laying back about 5 miles since the fight we have got orders to bee ready to march have evry thing packed & wait for orders to strike tents Our loss in the last fight was heavy but the Rebels loss was a great deal heavyer 

 

I have riten one leter to you before this since I received one from you I like our new Colonel beter than I did Caldwell Plaisted is a first rate man I got a leter from Lemuel day before yesterday their are all well Give my love to the Chrildren and enquireing friends I must close for fear we shall have to moove Pleas rite soon

 

From your Husband

A T Katon

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