Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1918-02-27
LETTER WRITTEN IN
CIVIL WAR DAYS

Smith Lapham, Of Rockford, Mich,
fifty-six years ago from a battlefield
! in the Civil war, will be Of interest in
these days of world war. Mr.. Gilbert
was brother Of David Gilbert, then
resident Of Oakfield; also brother
Of Grin Gilbert, who froze to death
sixty years ago while making his way
across Wabasis lake to Daniel Tow
er's. His body was found week lat
er by an Indian.
Camp Pitcher, Dec. 23rd, 1862.
Dear Brother:
After long delay shall attempt
an answer to your letter. At pres
ent feel little dilapidated from the
effects of heavy cold contracted by
the exposure to which the soldier is
almost constantly acquainted. This
feeling of dilapidation in connection
with the feeling caused by the late
defeat of our arms makes me feel
rather indisposed but under all this
am bound to keep stiff upper lip and
light heart while l can. / received
your letter very soon after we arriv-
ed in front Of Fredericksburg and at
that time it was supposed by the sold
iers that we were soon to cross or at
least attempt to cross the river but
we stayed here very quietly for two
weeks and even had reviews and drills
right in sight of the rebel army.
began to think the idea of fight was
about given up at least at this point
but finally the order came and across
we went and you are well aware of
the result, and if General Halleck had
asked any one of the privates in this
army the question: "What will the
result be if send you across the. riv-
er ?"-any one of them would have
sensibly replied: "If we cross we shah
be whipped, if not annihilated." But
this question was not asked and we
went across and had fight and lost
few thousand of our brave men and
very fortunately for our regiment we
are occupying the same ground we
left on the morning of the 18th.
About an hour before daylight our
ears were saluted with the sound of
musketry and artillery. 1t sounded
rather ominous to us but we went
forth with good spirits. This was on
Thursday morning. Our division did
not cross the river until Saturday,
little after noon we marched right to
the front. Our regiment was ordered
to the support of a battery. Just as
we arrived there the troops which had
been engaged were coming back in
great confusion. That was the only
time that / felt much excited Just
in front of where our regiment was
halted there was quite a rise of
ground upon which was planted the
battery which we supported but / said
these men were coming toward us on
the run all assuring us that it was too
hot a place for them, / expected to
see the Rebs coming right behind
them but they did not come but had
two lines of battle formed and then
opened a battery upon us to which
our battery promptly replied. At the
same time their infantry was advanc-
ing with the expectation that their
batteries could silence ours after
which they would charge on and take
over our batteries, but as they neared
our guns they began to pour grape
and canpister into them, which soon
caused them to retreat. After that
for some little time there were no
guns except some few shots exchang-
ed by the pickets.
Just before shutdown two generals
and their stats rode up on to the
hill and were accommodating with
their glasses when very suddenly the
Rebs opened a full battery and you
may be sure they got off that hill
pretty fast; but the way the shell flew
around us for a little while, was
caution but our battery soon silenced
them and soon came on the close of
day and the fight ceased. !, Soon after
dark we were thrown out as pickets.
Just before daylight the left wing
of the regiment was drawn off and the
right left on during the whole day,
that being the Sabbath there was not
much fighting especially in our front,
whether it was on account of their
religious scruples or some thing else
l cannot say, but / think they were
waiting for a big fight, but on Mon
day there was a flag of truce sent
over for the privilege of getting our
wounded and dead, but the first and
second flags were refused. Finally
the third one went over and was ac-
cepted. While the flag was in there
the rebel pickets and ours ran togeth-
err and greeted each other as friendly
as old friends. They agreed not to
shoot our pickets. When the flag
came out there were several of the
rebel pickets came over to our lines.
The day was used up and night came
on and under cover of darkness our
troops were wisely moved to the OPP
posite side of the river. Our regi-
ment was very fortunate, only having
three or four men wounded and two
missing, which is frequently the case.
Some men missing that never go into
battle, one of the same men, that is
now missing was missing after the
battle of Groveton. but finally came
to the regiment. He was courtmar-
tailed and sentenced to forfeit forty
dollars of his pay.
December oath. / commenced this
letter last evening and finding myself
rather tired when the drum beat for
nine o'clock, / layed it aside, but now
that / have had my breakfast eaten
after a very good nights rest / will
try to finish it. AS the saying is, "All
is quiet along the. Rappahannock."
The soldiers are busy fixing up
shanties for the winter. They are
bound to make themselves comfort
able while they stay mere and think
according to the present appearance
of affairs about Washington that we
shall not be very apt to advance to-
ward Richmond. There have been
rumors that we would go back to the