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Berkley Co.\ July the 28th 1864 Dear Father & Mother, I am glad that I (this morning) enjoy the privelige, and opportunity, to write you a few lines which will inform you that I am well and I sincerely hope that this epistle may go safely through, and find you enjoying God s richest blessings. I will necessarily have to be brief this time, as it is very uncertain how long I will have to write as the long roll may beat at any time. My letter will be lengthy enough too, but in comparison to the resources from which to draw matter, it will be short. -- Well to leave off preliminary remarks, I must, in the first place tell you that I have not received a letter from home of later date than the 7th of June which was received at Coal Harbour" below Richmond. While the army was in Maryland I was not with them, and a letter came to the company for me but before I got to them it was lost. I do not know whether it was from home or not. I wrote home from Staunton a month ago yesterday the last time, I hope you will excuse me, for it is so seldom we have an opportunity to write. The reason I was not with the army in Md. I was unwell and got behind the army, and when I got to Winchester 2 days after the army had passed through they would not let me pass, for fear of being bushwhacked So I stayed there until they came out again. I wish hereafter you would please write at least once a fortnight whether you get a letter from me or not. I will write as often as I can. Our army went into Md. and went within 3 miles of Washington City which is closer than the yanks have been to Richmond this year.-- Our men brought out a fine lot of horses & cattle, destroyed many miles of Rail Road, bursted up the Chesipeak, & Ohio Canal, besides capturing, and destroying vast quantities of army store & etc. This will ballance off with them for the Dublin & Lynchburg raids. Breckenridges Division was in no fight until they got back within 12 miles of Winchester, to Snigersons ford. here they turned on the Yanks that were following them and give them a gentell thrashing & drove them back, but we lost some men in the fight. In our company we lost George W. Chandler, killed. Corpl Wm. H. Rose, dangerously wounded in thigh (broken) Wm. A Daugherty severely in foot. John Cassell supposed mortally in bowels. John L. Kincer slightly in breast. When the army got to New town I got with them. We then fell back to Strasburg in Shenandoah County, and took a position to fight the Yankees, but they would not come up, they came 7 miles above Winchester and there halted. Gen. Earley waited on them a few days, and finding they would not attack him H marched on, and attacked them on Sunday the 24th-- The fight commenced about 10 o'clock I was in that fight, and as the country was very level I saw more of that fight than in any I ever was in; about 1 o'clock Breckenridges old Division Comanded by Gen. Whorton, was moved to the right, and came up on the enimies left flank. When all things were ready, the Rebble yell was raised all around the lines and we charged upon them; Gordens Division, in their front and ours on their left flank. I was in the front Rank, and had a fair view of the whole field. Nothing could be more grand (of that kind) the Rebble ranks moved up steadily, without wavering across fields over fences, & Ditches & etc. The Yankees stood for a while but as our line moved up, I observed their ranks began to waver soon they began to scatter, and brake across the fields. Their Officers tried to keep them together, and in the meen time a yankee Officer came galloping across the field in front of, & toward our regt. and kept beckoning with his sword for us to halt--but narry halt -- when he got within 75 yds we let off at him and killed his horse under him and wounded him, about a hundred yds further, and a regt of Averills noted cavalry made a charge upon the head of our Regt. and the 45th. This looked somewhat scarry to see horsemen in full speed with drawn sabres comeing right at us. there was a little confusion in the 45th caused by someone hollering fall back. some started and some stood, but soon all was rallied again as for my part I determined that I would not give back an inch for if we got confused and soon I knew the cavalry would capture us, and if captured, I was going to be captured right there. ___But so it was when they got within 20 yards of us we poured a heavy volley into them, and you just ought to have been there to see men & horses fall. they just fell in every Direction. They came with such force that 3 or 4 horses ran through our line. From this we got them in full retreat. We run them through Winchester. They threw away guns blankets oilcloths knapsacks haversacks canteens hats and every thing that would impeed their progress--our boys just loaded themselves with the spoils. We followed them to this place but they would not fight us any more. The Baltimore & Ohio Rail Road passes here and we have been amusing ourselves taring it up for the yanks since we have been here. We have burned several bridges, and tore up 10 or 12 miles of rail road and burned it since we came here. I reckon the yanks thinks by this time that they have not all the fun of raiding to themselves. In the fight Sunday we had 3 men wounded in our company. Austin Kincer in leg not very badly. Jeff Lindamoode through the palm of the hand, and Ephraim A Ganter, son of Matthias Ganter, in breast slightly. I was not touched except by a spent ball which hit my havresack, and dropped down by my side. Cameron is well and sends his respects to you all. The rest of the boys are well except Capt Umbarger he has lost his speach and gone to the Hospital. Joseph Hilten got hurt a little in the fight. a spent ball hit him on the leg, and made a blue place. Joe says he-ll show them "whosh te mashter", I have quit cooking for the officers. since Capt. Yonce was promoted. I wont be a negro for men that are so hard to please - I tell you there are few such men as Major Yonce. Before I went into that fight I committed myself to him who is able to take care of us in the hour of danger. I desire an interest in all your prayers. that I may be one of the happy ones that shall return home after this storm of war has blown over. Write soon & Direct to Staunton,
have no stamps, and will have to frank my letter.
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