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Spotsylvania C.H. Va.,
May 19th 1864
My dearest Corrie,
As there is an opportu-
nity or soon will be of sending a letter I will write to you again.
I wrote two or three days since but being
aware that you will be very anxious to hear from
me frequently during these fighting times I will
endeavor to write as often as an opportunity affords.
We had a mail to-day, the first in nearly two
weeks, none from you. Our command has not been
engaged since I last wrote but expecting every night and
day to be attacked: the enemies line of battle is in
full view, about a thousand yards in our front but I
think it very probable he will never attack us in our
strong position, if he should he will be repulsed as
heretofore. We were under a terrific shelling yesterday for
two hours with very little damage. Ewell repulsed the
enemy yesterday three times making great slaughter in
his (the enemy) ranks. To-day so far everything is quiet the skir-
mishers dont even fire at each other but seem to be quite
friendly, meet each other and exchange papers and have
a talk over the times; one came and met Capt Brown
of the 44th and after having a chat he, the Yankee, told
Brown that Lee had destroyed half their army; there
has no doubt been an awful slaughter in their ranks
as, men who have fought over many bloody fields in
Va. say they never saw dead Yankees lie so thick on
the ground as they do in front of the works where they
charged. Their dead lie unburied from the Wilderness
down here, the enemy went off and left them and
we did the same. I see from Northern papers they
claim a great victory at the Wilderness, well I wish
they could all the time have such victories I consider
when an army is driven back leaving their dead and
wounded both in the field and hospitals that they have
been badly whiped, dont you? That is the kind of a
victory they gained at the Wilderness for I was there
and know it to be so, we remained on the field
till Sunday evening of the 8th and not an enemy could
be found in front by our scouts |
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We have to mourn the loss of many good
officers and soldiers since the fight began. From
all quarters we have good news, every where our arms
have been victorious-- Butler driven back Grant
checked, Steele captured with his command and many
other places we have been successful for which we
ought to give God the praise. In my last I
wrote to you of the death of brother Logan I also
wrote to his wife. Bill McGimsy had an attack
of cramp yesterday is nearly well to-day. Aus P.
has been a little unwell but improving. Pink and
I are very well. I am very thankful that we
have come out through so many dangers as well as
we have, nothing but the hand of an Allwise prov-
idence has protected us thus far, for which we
ought to be very humble and give him all the
praise for his goodness. My wound is not well
but does not hurt me. I saw Sam Tate when
we were coming down here-- havn't seen or heard
from him since. We have had a hare time
since we left camp, have been marching, lying in
line of battle and fighting all the time, are now
in the works now allowed to leave any distance as
Grant is a sly fellow and has to be watched closely.
Grant is twice as badly whiped now as was
Burnside or Hooker but he is so determined he will
not acknowledge it, but I think before he gets
through with Lee he will have to own up.
I haven't had any clean cloths since I
left camps the wagons are in the rear and we can
not leave to go where they are to get our cloths, all
the officers are in the same fix, so you may well
suppose we are somewhat dirty.
Give my love to uncle John, Puss and
Sue. Do you get your papers?
Your devoted
Lewis |
