“Just to the right of Petersburg”
Outer Line of Breast Works June 21, 1864.
Dear wife,
Here I am, just down to the right of Petersburg. Have to be low, so I will improve the time in letting you know how I am and how I got here. I shall always tell you just how it is. Thursday afternoon I went to Camp Distribution. On the next morning about seven hundred of us went to Alexandria, took a steamer for Bermuda Hundred but did not land there. Went back down the river a short distance and came on a few miles, Sunday night, and camped. Heard the roar of guns all night when I was awake, but I slept most of the time. In the morning started again to the Army Headquarters, found it and a lot of rebel prisoners. Then started for Corps Headquarters, found it. There saw a few rebel compliments in the shape of shell. The first one struck a little ways from me. Well, a few dropped around, but no one seemed to mind it, so I thought I would not. There were but four of us to report to this Brigade, that was up to the right of Petersburg, near to the rail road. They sent me to the sixth regiment. The sixth and 2nd had just been relieved from the front line, and most of the boys were digging holes to keep out of the way of shells, though none struck. After I came there we had orders at sun down to go to the left to relieve. Another division got there after dark. Have to relieve after dark, as it is not so pleasant showing one’s self in the day time, but if one keeps dark, it is safe enough. A little way to our left the pickets kept firing all night, though no balls came our way. There was a time this morning they buzzed pretty well. They make me dodge that is certain. Of those men that came on from Brattleboro one has been killed, one died from his wounds and five wounded in hospital, all doing well. I went to the second yesterday, saw Jim Switzer. He saw Zopher just before he came. I cannot find where the 10th is. They lay somewhere to our left. He says that Zopher was all right. I found most of my friends that were on Long Island with me, of my old tent mates, are alive, except one who died from disease. Now don’t feel anxious about me, for it will do no good. I shall write often when there is communication. If I do not have more to do than I have today, I can write as well as not. You must excuse the dirt and pencil, for we are so close to the ground, there is some dust around; you may think that I can tell something about what we are doing. All I know is that we are in a line, and ordered to hold it. It is impossible for one part of the army knowing anything of what is going on in another. Our Colonel does not know where the 10th is. It is useless for me to say how much I wish to be home. My heart would leap at the idea. I hope that commission will come, as it will give me a chance to get home, so good bye. I am in Company D, 8th Regt.
Your own,
Charles.
Bombs bursting in air
He’s really getting into the thick of it… with shells landing nearby.
The talk of rebels, 150 years later, seems a bit funny… as we now know these people as residents of the Carolina’s, etc. At the time, though, the rebels must be stopped!
Petersburg, VA
It’s about 20 miles due south of Richmond and about 50 miles north of the NC/VA state line.
The railroad near there was of great strategic importance.