Near Petersburg Virginia.

June 30^th 1864.

 

Dear Brother:

                        Yours of the 21^st came to hand some days since, and this evening I will try and answer you.

 

            I was very glad to hear that you were all well at home. I hope this may find you still in the same health.

 

            Our Regt are now lying in the front line, but a short distance from the rebels, and sharp-shooting continues all the time. Henry and I are both enjoying very good health. Yesterday and today I have been very busy writing: making out pay-rolls. I have not got them finished yet, but I thought I would stop working on them a little while and write you a few lines. I am back to the rear a short distance writing. I concluded it was a safer place to write than behind / the breast-works where the bullets are flying all the time. You probably have learned the particulars of the battle of the 18^th. It was a little warmer place than I like to get into. There is cannonading more or less every day, and its roar has become very familiar. The 4^th of July is near at hand. I wish I could spend that day with you, or at Indianapolis or some other "White Settlement" but perhaps we will celebrate it here at Petersburg. Perhaps they will fire the cannon and have a grand display of firearms. We are now using a great many "mortars" They shoot the shell up in the air so that it falls down in their forts or breastworks and then bursts. It makes a circuit like a rainbow. It looks very beautiful after dark, you can see a stream of fire its entire route. In daylight, if you watch closely, you can see the ball. The weather is very dry and warm. It has / been threatening rain for the last few days, but no rain has come yet.

 

            I composed some poetry a few days ago & sent a copy of it to Mollie; I also sent a copy to the "Indianapolis Journal" also to the "Hendricks County Union" a paper published in Danville. I would like to get a paper that has it in, but I will get one, for several of the boys here takes those papers. We get plenty to eat, and our time is gliding swiftly by.

 

                        'Tis only eighty sixty-eight days more,

                                    That we will have to stay,

                        We then will talk our trials o'er

                                    And to "Hoosier" make our way.

 

But I must quit for this time, do not fail to write soon and give me all the news. Tell Kate Moore I am looking & looking for a letter from her with her photograph. Tell Miss Ennis and Miss Jones the same.

 

Your Brother

Harry Speer /

 

Below is a list of the Officers of Co. I. 7^th Ind Vols

 

Benjamin F. Abrams: Captain

 

Minos H. Miller 2^nd Lieutenant

 

Francis M. Ravencroft            Orderley Sergt.

James L. Polk                          2^nd Sergt

Samuel Bair                            3^d         "

W. H. Speer                            4^th        "

T. J. Clark                               5^th        "

 

John Q. A. Shives                   1^st Corporal

Eli Cox                                    2^nd       "

John Harding                          3^d         "

Henry Hoadley                       4^th        "

H. P. Speer                              5^th        "

G. F. Clark                              6^th        "

Milton Hooker                        7^th        "

McKendree Smith                   8^th        " /

 

You will notice that we have no 1^st Lieut. Capt. Abrams has sent on a recommendation for Ravencroft for 2^nd Lieut & Minos 1^st. This will make another promotion among the non-commissioned officers. What do you think of these?

 

Give my love to all enquiring Friends.

 

Yours &c

Harry

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