Click here for this soldier’s biography:
https://micivilwar.com/authors/benton-thomas-h/
Regiment: 19th Indiana Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: James Shields, John Gibbon, Nathaniel P. Banks, Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson
Catlett’s Sta, Va. June 1st 1862
Dear Father:
This is the first opportunity I have had of writing
since we left Fredericksburg, and I have to trust this in
the hands of strangers, and do not know whether you will
ever get it or not. We left Fredericksburg last Sunday and
marched eight miles on the road towards Richmond, and
camped there until Thursday. We then received orders to
march back to this place. We arrived here last night after
marching 40 miles. We are on our way to western Va. to join
Banks. We take the cars here and go to Manassas
Junction, and from there through the gap. Three brigades
were shipped last night, and there is now only our
(Gibbon’s) brigade to go, and we are expecting every moment
to be off. We have got to wait until the cars return that
took the other troops before we can go. I understand that
we go all the way now by railroad. It is fifteen miles from
here to Manassas Junction, and forty-five miles from there
to Manassas Gap. I do not know how far the other side of
the mountains we go on the cars. The report here now is
that Shields is now engaged with Jackson, and when
we get there his retreat will be entirely cut off.
You must not be uneasy if you do not hear from me for
sometime as we are now going to where there will be no
chance of sending letters. I have not rec’d letters or
papers for two weeks. I have no time to write more now, and
I have had to hurry this up so much that I do not know
whether it will be intelligible or not. Tell Sam’s father
that he is well. Give my love to all.
T. H. Benton
