The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-08-08
From the I'd Regiment.
MISSIONER, Va, july 20. '62.


are making the Notifications stronger every
day. We have to work hard. We have
felled hundreds of acres of timber, mostly
hard pine, and very valuable should think,
so near the James river. 1t looks too bad to
cut it down as We do, but when think of the
men that own it l don't feel so bad. We are
in camp some two miles from Harrison's
Landing on high bluff. 1t is very pleas
ant place, and do not see why it is not
healthy as We have the best of water, think
the best l have seen in Virginia. In a few
days We are to have soft bread once more
then we shall lire again. We have not had
anything but hard bread since the 10th of
march, and you may believe the boys are get
ting tired of it, your humble servant among
the rest ;although when we are on the march
it is the best kind of grub and like it.
There is an old brick church in front of
our company that l judge is more than 100
years old, as there is a gravestone near it on
which we can make out "Wm We're, mer-
chant, aged 25-died June Goth, 174S," and
from the place the grave is in l think the
church must have been built first. There are
no other buildings near it. 1t has brick
wall some five feet high around it, and also
some very nice shade trees The house is
guarded by our regiment.
Now, as YOU may wish to know how | got
along in the seven days fight, will begin
with the 26th June. That day the fight be-
gan on the right. We were under arms all
day, Tor we're not allowed to take our belts
off, and at dark went to guard party that
were making fort, and were up all night
We came IN at in the morning of the 9th.
We got some sleep that day, but not very
good sleep, as the fighting was going on on
the other side of the Chickahominy, ard we
knew that our men were falling back and soon
the rebels would get 50 they could flank us.
AT about T. NJ. We got big lot Of shell
dropped into camp, and they came so thick
that we took our guns and went over little
hill in the rear ofthe camp till the rebs "play-
ed out" But no sooner did the shells stop
than they pitched into the pickets, SO we took
the double quick for the picket line and had
a warm time for about 80 minutes. AS il
was dark all We did was to drive them back.
They did not move our picket line an inch.
We went back to camp and got quiet in bare
ly time to be walked up at 2 A. NJ. of the oSth
and receive orders to pack up and be ready
to march with all the rations we could carry.
We then fell back about mile to piece of
woods and remained till daylight of the Doth.
We lay during the night with our guns in our
hands. We were at that time on the ground
where the battle of Fair Oaks had been
fought. That day (29th) we moved some
miles to Savages Station and stad till dark,
when (Smith's division being all together) we
marched some two miles and halted as VI
supposed for the night, but soon
We were ordered to about face, forward, quick
time. We knew something was up, so back
We went, and soon we saw the rebels. We
tormod In division. oloSo column, took tho
double quick, and at the same time formed
line of battle and advanced to within two
hundred yards of them, halted and gave it to
them. The Sd, 9TH and 9th Vt. came in
quickly, also two pieces of Ayers battery,
with grape and canister, which drove them
back like sheep. We then left for the white
oak swamp, got to that place at o'clock A.
NJ. the 3Oth, and got some sleep til! s, when
We fell in and marched back about half mile
and stacked arms and lay as calm as kittens
till about ?. NJ, when the first thing | saw
was 6-pound she'll strike house not more
than 40 rods from us. The rebs opened on
US with "A pieces. That was the only time
! that saw anything like panic. For short
time did think the whole division would
break and run, but We soon got into line and
tell back into a piece of woods, our batteries
got to work, and they soon dried up, but for
SIX hours it was a constant roar of cannon
At II P. NJ. We left for the river where we
remained about two hours and slept SOME
We then went back mile and formed line
Of battle in the woods and laid all day and
TIL O'Clock the next morning, when we were
called up and came to Harrison's Landing.
Capt Geo ?. Foster ofCo. G, 18th regiment.
has been promoted to Major of the same reg
iment.