Elk Water Camp Virginia. October the 21^st/61

 

Dear Father, Mother, Brothers, and Sisters,

            I will once more make an attempt towards writing you a letter. Yesterday I recieved a package from you containing a dozen of envelopes, also a short note. Although there was but a few words contained in that short note, yet I was very glad to get that many words from home. Home how sweet the name. How I would like to be at home about a week. I guess that I could sit and tell you considerably about Western Virginia, and the many curiosities that I have seen since I left home. But I do not know how soon I may have such a privilege. I hope that it will not be long. Do not think by this that I am homesick, or dissatisfied, far from it, I can say still, that I am satisfied, and intend to remain so. Why should I not be, in such a cause as this? I expect to ever remain willing and ready to fight for the Union the constitution, and the enforcement of the laws, for freedom and Liberty. 

 

In the short note which I received from you on yesterday, you stated that you wanted me to give you a full history of the battle at Greenbrier, and about the seventh Indiana regiment a running. Well, this I can do very easily, for if you remember I keep a memorandum book. And I am prepared to give you a full history of our march over there, the battle when we got there, and our return back to our old camp. And I expect to write you nothing but the truth. On the first day of this month, we recieved marching orders to Greenbrier, we at once prepared two or three days rashions. Our Capt. (Capt. Miller) was not well at the time and consequently could not go with us, but a man by the name of Burlingame was appointed to take charge of our Company during our engagement. Burlingame, if you remember, was the man who killed Garnett in the three months service. He made us a very good Capt. during the fight /

 

We left our camp on Tuesday, the first of this month, at one Oclock P.M. traveled all the afternoon, went about five miles down the river in order to cross on the bridge, and when we got there we found that the recent high water had washed away the bridge and we had to wade the river. We went across the river, went four or five miles further and camped for the night. The next day (Wednesday) we started again about daylight to travel. Rained some that day. I do not know exactly what regiments there was with us. We traveled that day to the top of Cheat mountain and stoped there for the night. Laid down on the ground with nothing over us but our blankets. Several other regiments joined us there, and we started again that night at two O'clock The night was dark, and the road was very mudy, and we had a pretty tough time of it. But the thought that we were after secesh gave us new / courage, and we traveled on very well. the next morning when we got within four miles of the rebel camp, our officers gave the command Double Quick, and we went all the rest of the way in a pretty fast run. However when we got within two miles of the rebel camp, we could see their tents a shining. And we was ordered to sling knapsacks, we took off our knapsacks and started on. presently we heard the guns begining to fire, and then we went in a dead run, until we got there And many of us was almost give out when we got there. The artillery kept on firing on them and presently the 7^th reg^t was marched around right in front of the rebel camp on a hill side. The fighting was mostly done with artillery but our infantry did good work, for the chance they had. I shot once, but the man I shot at was too far off, and consequently did not kill him. /

 

You had better reckon that the bullets and cannon balls made nice music as they went whistling through the air. Some over our heads, some under our feet making the dirt fly in every direction and very often making us dodge.

 

After our artillery had kept up firing for about four hours they run out of ammunition and we had to retreat back to the top of Cheat Mountain. But we did'nt run. We paraded our Companies and formed our regiments and then marched off in perfect order. all this was done while we were within cannon shot of the rebels, and they kept shooting at us, but as I said before we marched off in perfect order. The rebels numbered about sixteen thousand, our troops about seven or eight thousand. our loos was between six and eight killed, and a few wounded, while the rebel loss is estimated / at about six hundred killed and one thousand wounded. As I stated before we went back that night to the top of Cheat Mountain. Staid there all night. The next day (Friday) we started again for our old camp, went about two miles when a messenger overtook us and said that the camp which we had just left was attacked by the rebels. We at once turned round and went back double quick and when we reached there, we found that it was a false alarm. And that made some of us mad, for we were eager for another fight. We then came back to our old camp, reached here about sundown. This I believe is a full history of the battle of Greenbrier. And now you may judge for yourself whether our regiment run or not. Enough about the battle.

 

I and Henry and nearly all of our Company are enjoying good health I believe that there is not more / than ten sick in our whole regiment. Last night one died in Company D. But as a general thing we are enjoying good health. I have not been sick a day since I left home. I do not know how long we will remain here. But whether we remain here all winter or whether we come back to old "Hoosier" or anywhere else I intend to be contented, do my duty as a soldier, and live in hopes that some day I again can return home. But first let justice be done, and the rebels brought to meet the reward due to their crimes. When this is done, then I can return home with the assurance that our glorious union will be preserved and that we can live in peace and harmony, and enjoy that liberty which we then can have the privilege of enjoying. We still get our four crackers a day. But today we commenced making a bakery house and then I think that we will / get better bread, or at least it will not be so hard. Sometimes we get crackers that we can hardly bite at all, and have to break them some way and put them in our coffee to soak, and sometimes we fry them in greece and water until they are soft &c. Last week we drew a barrel barrel of flour and we made us some flitters which tasted pretty well. we get besides crackers, coffee, sugar, rice, meat, salt & vinegar, candles & soap &c.

 

Well Mollie a word or two to you I am glad to hear that you are a going to school. I would be glad that I had such a privilege.

 

But let me say to you, be kind and obedient to your teacher, and always strive to be first in your class, and you will be sure of making a good schollar. Had I time I might write two more sheets full. There has been several frosts here the leaves are falling fast &c

 

from your absent Son              W. H. Speer

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