On the battle field

near Spottsylvania C.H.

May 10^th 1864

 

Dear Father.

      I now for the first time since the Army moved have an opportunity to send a few lines with some chance of their getting to you. Our mail communications from the army has been shut off entirely. I can only write a few lines now, but thinking even half a dozen words would give some satisfaction I have undertaken to write some. I am still alive & well, which considering what I have passed through / is saying much. My comrads of the Co. are nearly two thirds of them dead or wounded.

 

Our Regiment left Alexandria week ago last Friday & joined our Brigade (the 2^nd) at Rappahannock Station. Sunday the Div marched to near Brandy Station. Tuesday afternoon the Corps was again on the move, but I had was sent to Culpepper in charge of a squad of men at the same time the troops marched all night & crossed the Rapidan about 8 oclock next morning. I left Culpepper at 6 oclock next morning to join overtake the Corps: we crossed / the Rapidan at Ely's ford, went through Cancellorsville & joined the Corps near Wilderness Tavern where it was then fighting. This was Thursday. This day the fight was pretty severe & we lost (from Co E) 6 men. Friday we did not loose any though we were in the fight all day. Saturday night we marched all night reached this place early in the morning & without halting for breakfast or any thing else the 44 N.Y. & 83^rd [?] were ordered to charge some Rebel works in our front. We did so & lost over / half our men. Co. E went in the charge with 25 men & came out with 12 thirteen of them being killed or wounded. We do not know positively how many are killed as we were compelled to leave leave part of them on the field. We lost our Capt. The Col. Lt Col Adjt. several other officers were wounded. The fighting is still going on at different parts of the lines. Genl Sedgwick was killed night before last. We have Fredericksburg as a base of supplies. The Rebel Army is pulling back a little all the time. I think they must give way soon. I lost my knapsack in Sundays fight with all it contained diary & all. I cannot write more at present but will send a few lines by the first opportunity Give your selves no uneasiness about me I trust the same protecting hand that has kept me safe from dangers past.

SOURCES