Private's Letter Home

On Thursday the 26th of June the battle of Mechanicsville commenced. The enemy attacked our right wing at about noon and after a desperate fight of about six hours were repulsed. The cannonading was terrific it exceed the Battle of Fair Oaks. We were under arms during most of the time the fight was going on; expecting every moment to be called upon. When night set in the noise of strife ceased and the news was brought to us that the enemy had been repulsed. The next day the 27th the firing was resumed and kept apparently growing nearer and nearer. At about three o'clock Slocum's Division (formerly Franklin's) was ordered out in high marching order. After forming a line our Brigade started for the field of action across the Chickahomanis and about three miles from our camp. As we persued our line of march the firing grew "nearer! clearer! Deadlier! than before" and ambulances were passing us filled with wounded and other wounded men were passing us on foot from whom we received various and conflicting accounts of how the battle was going but all of them concurring in the statement that there was hot work over the hill yonder. We at last reached the top of the hill referred to from which extended large level plain with woods upon each side and in the distance about a mile off we could see the battle raging. The lines of men formed in various directions with shells bursting around them. We stood at the top of the hill about half an hour in plains sight of the battlefield waiting orders. At last they came. We filed off into the woods upon the right of us and marched along their edge for the distance of about three quarters of a mile. We then filed out of the woods came into line our regiment occupied the centre. We were now forwarded up to face the enemy double quick. We took up our position behind a long ridge which extended across the field. The enemy were in front of us about 200 yards. They opened a deadly fire upon us which we returned with vigor. Now we were really into the contest no one thought of danger. The wood echoed and re-echoed with volley after volley and the cannon planted in the rear of us threw grape and canister over our heads into the enemy ranks. This continued out of our company and two killed. That was owning to the protected position we occupied behind the ridge. The ground was filled with the dead and wounded after sustaining our position here against overwhelming numbers for three hours the enemy succeeded in flanking us and we were ordered to retire which we did in not very good order. In the confusion I got separated from the regiment. I stopped to a spring to get a drink of water and the rebels came within a few feet of me but I was screened by the woods and underbrush and so escaped being taken prisoner. and am now safe and sound on the James river none the worse for hard usage and ready for the next encounter with the enemies of our county. The two men killed in the company were tent mates of mine. One was the Captain's brother and the other was a Vermont boy and another tent mate of mine was wounded having three of his fingers cut off by a piece of shell. He has gone to Washington. The loss of the regiment is estimated at 160 killed, wounded and missing. Since we have arrived here on the river we have not had the required amount of rest. We have had to work part of nearly every night on fortifications. This is rather hard on us but notwithstanding all this I never waas in better health. The wather is terribly hot here now and there is a great deal of sickness. McClellan had undoubtedly premeditated retiring from before Richmond and securing his base of operation on the James River but that he was forced to do a little faster than convenient is evident at least to me. The enemy compelled him by force of numbers to retire. But the retreat was an orderly one and the enemy gained no advantage by it. We whipped them wherever we met them in the retreat to do us harm. I have never given you an idea I believe how we live as to grub. Well I will tell you a little something about it. We get in the first place what is called "Pilot bread". They come to us boded up. They look like a soda cracker but are about twice ass thick and about as hard as a gun flint. The boys call them "hard tacks". This serves for bread. Then we are allowed every day a piece of salt beef or pork about two inches square. And once a week when in camp (as at present) we are allowed fresh meat. We get coffee in the morning and at night once in a while some molasses. This sums up our eatables. I have not eaten a piece of soft bread in 4 months. Hundreds of strong healthy men are now either dead or as good as dead from disease while I never remarkable for my strength or robustness am now about the healthiest man in the Regiment.