The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-06-06

es1Ac At - kk4Ae
route from MechaniCsville TO the
James River.
1t Is impossible for me TO give YOU
any description OF any OF the fights. as
no description OF 4 battle have ever
seen approached TO anything like the
eaHty Our regiment Tough, very
we'll and has been mplimented Nv
the B~rigadier General tPender). on
It's good and gallant d
None OF the boys from our neighbor-
hood was killed and only one, r. w.
Robbins. slightly wounded. What our
next move will be l cannot tell, il VIII
depend entirely upon the movements
or the enemy. j see Lincoln has called
Tor 100000 more men and II he gets
them there viii be more warm work
before he gets to Richmond with his
army.
II is doubtful when I will be able 20
go home, not before Col. Conner gets
able to take command OF the regiment
which Will probably be two months
hence. AS his leg was broken below
n knee, and will probably require
that time to heal up. am quite
anxious to see home once more and all
OF you and enjoy quiet and rest.
without being harased and worried
with the noise and confusion of the
camp and army. We have a large force
around here and l believe II Is the in
SSAtioI Ok VtII iCztOcE 10 ucItDu 1Sltn-
mond to the last. How soon the
enemy Will attempt to make another
advance in this direction, we OF course,
cannot tell. But whenever IL Is made
1t will without doub be promptly met
1 have seen nearly all our prominent
generals. Gen. Lee who commanded
In these last battles is a grandson OF
| Col. Harry Lee of Revolutionary
fame. He is a large, stout man, some-
what inclined to co-pulency and prob
ably IS years of age. He makes no
show or parade and rides about from
n point to another as quietly az q
farmer would ride over his farm. He
has the reputation OF being the best
| strategist in America Gen Johnston
is a man of more striking and mill
tary appearance. he was severely
wounded at the battle OF Seven
Pines and has not been in command
| since, but / hear will soon be able to
| resume his position. Gen. Longstreet,
I have been informed Is a brother OF
Judge Longstreet, but can't think 1t
| so, as he is at least IS or 80 years
younger than the Judge and besides
dOes not look at all like him. ] think
it more probable he is a nephew or
cousin. He is one of our best gener-
ais; commands a division and is always
on hand when there is hard fighting
to do, or an enemy to be defeated.
Gen. Danie H.. Hill. Of North Caro-
lima, is another Major General OF fine
reputation. He was formerly Major
IN the United States Army, then had
charge of the Military Academy In
Charlotte, and has distinguished him
self on every occasion since the begin
ning Of the present war. There are
numerous others whom I might men
ton, but time and space forbid. A
man who has not been in a battle can
- lf-p
Of a terrible thunderstorm looks and
is about as much like the reality as q
description Of q battle is Xix e the real
affair. In the first and second days
fights our regimental flag had IA bull
let holes and 3 holes from grapeshot
and shell made in It. We then got a
new flag and in the fight on Monday
the goth, our flag staff was shot in two
twice, the Color Bearer killed and s
out Of 8 COlor-guard either killed or
wounded Our regiment has been IN
5 battles including the Seven Pines"
fought about a month ago, and lost In
all over 500 men in killed and wound
ed nj missing; the missing have been
very small in CONF arison to the kill
ed and wounded. The company which
I formerly commanded has fought
very well. and its loss has been quite
severe. 1t. Joseph Brown is the COM
manding officer OF II, n was wound-
ed on the 9th in the hand and has, ]
learn gone home.
A good many OF the citizens OF
| North Carolina have come out to
| Rfchmon2 in search OF kindred and
friends in the army. but they are not
| allowed to come within side the lines
| This looks hard. at first sight. but Is
necessary to prevent spies from get
| ting insight into our movements.
1 hear from home very seldom and
| am always glad to get letters, and
write I can. When ] last
| heard from Matte, our youngest baby
| was quite unwell; I hope II has re-
| covered entirely before this time j
| must conclude this letter. ] hope mat
| tiers In this region may be so that i
| can visit you in a month or such a
time. and enjoy the pleasures and
fruits of home.