Year: 1864

i
ing, of this place, dating on the field. These
army letters, not written for publication.
have an air of truthful simplicity that the


our owns" of the daily press do not possess,
and carries conviction where the professional
letter fails to impress:


CAxP MILEs FROM PErERsBuRG, Va.
July 4th, 1861.
DEAR BRorHER: Your letter Of May 18th,
was received June 10th. On that day our
Battery was in position at the breastworks
| before Petersburg. We were within 200
yards of the rebel lines. The way we placed
our guns in position, We took them in during
the night, was very quick about it, too, Tor
upon the least noise being made the rebs
would pour volley of bullets at US, but we
/ had previously been at work and thrown up
strong and high works, and as long as we
lay close behind our works we were compar-
atively safe. During the daytime is the most
| danger from sharpshooters. If a man shows
any part OF his person through an embras-
| ure or over the works bullet comes very
close, reminding one to keep low' We
have to dig holes in the sand to sleep in.
holes to cook in, holes to cat in, and have
trenches dug from our guns to the ammuni-
ton chests. In fact, We are fast getting to
be accomplished disgers.


Yes, John, we did have hot time on the
18th OF May, and no mistake. The charge
made by the Second Corps on that day was
the most brilliant affair of the campaign.-
Our Battery was early in the fight, and con.
tinued firing the entire day. Our loss was
three killed and four wounded-all from
musket balls. The rebels were completely
taken by surprise, but they soon hurried for
ward renforcements and tried to retake the
works and guns they had lost, but they did
not succeed. The musketry was the most
rapid and heavy l ever witnessed. Oar
whole Curps was formed in line, and blaze
of fire from the muskets was kept up during
the entire day and night. In all these en-
gagements have come out all safe, and the
same with Oscar and Thomas Bates and Nor
gan.


The present is the longest and most trying
campaign on record. 1t is now more than
two months since we crossed the Rapidan
river. The loss of this army, exclusive of
the cavalry, up to the present time, is esti-
mated at 5000. These figures show that
hard fighting has been DONE


Our Battery has been under fire for week
at Il time. | consider that we have been
very fortunate in not loosing more men. We
have fired 1882 rounds of shot and shell at
the rebs during this campaign. l have no
doubt we have injured some of them beyond
recovery-at least l hope so.
Our old Corps commander, Warren, has
not been with the Second Corps he com
mands the Fifth Corps. General Hancock
has been our commander during this cam
paign and has earned the praise of eyerv one
for managing so WE'LL


This day has been the gal lorious Fourth.
We have been very quiet thus far TO day vet
we may have some music from our seige guns
before sundown. At the North the people
are no doubt enjoying themselves finely to
day; good many blank cartridges are being
fired, but not SO with US; we fire cold iron
instead


Our army now surrounds Petersburg. Our
guns can throw shells into the city Already
they have been treated to number Of our
| unwelcome visitors. think we will capture
the city before hong. Whenwe do capture it
Richmond must fall soon after, as Petersburg
is admitted to be the key to Richmond Our
cavalry have Destroyed all the rail roads lead.
ing into Richmond and as a natural result


Lee and his army will have to leave there
and fall back to new position in fact, with
the large cavalry force We have with this ar
my, the roads connecting Richmond with the
south can and will be destroyed and trains
burned. and the rebs cannot prevent it. We
all feel confident in the final result.
Truly Yours, HENRY CUSHING