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https://micivilwar.com/authors/benton-thomas-h/
Regiment: 19th Indiana Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: George B. McClellan, Nathaniel P. Banks
Camp opposite Fredericksburg, June 12th 1862
Dear Father:
I received a letter from you last night dated the 26th
of May, and while at Warrenton I got two of your letters
and a paper. The mail to us has been very irregular. We
have received but two mails since we left Fredericksburg
two weeks ago, and I have not had an opportunity of writing
to you except a few lines at Catlett’s Station.
I believe I told you in my letter that we intended
going to Front Royal on the cars from the station. We
stayed there until the day after I wrote, and no
cars came for us. We then marched to Haymarket and stayed
there a few days. We then marched to Warrenton and camped
there for two days. I guess it was our good luck that kept
us off the cars. Out of the troops that did go on them, one
was killed and upwards of forty wounded during the
night two trains ran together. Warrenton is quite a nice
little place of about one thousand inhabitants. It was once
quite a wealthy place from the appearance. I cannot tell
what we were brought back to Fredericksburg for, unless to
rebuild the railroad bridge, which washed away a
few weeks ago. There is no troops here now but this
brigade. The balance of our brigade is at Catlett’s Station
yet. All the troops that were left here have gone down the
river to join McClellan, and very likely that will be our
next point – unless we are hurried off to reinforce Banks
again. Fredericksburg is quite a different city to what it
was when we first came here. All the business houses were
then shut up. Now they are all in full blast, and the price
of everything is fifty percent less. I was very sorry to
learn that Lizzie is so bad. I will have to quit now and
get ready for the review. I will write in a few
days again. Give my love to mother. Tell Ellen I got her
letter but have not time to answer it now. Love to all.
Your son,
T. H. Benton
