Click here for this soldier’s biography:
https://micivilwar.com/authors/bronson-spencer/
Regiment: 7th Wisconsin Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: George G. Meade
December 6
th 1863
Camp near Kellys Ford
Dear Sister A few days after my last
letter was written we started on the
march since which time we have been
constently every day on the move this
acts for my silence of over a week
On Thanksgiving morning
(Nov 26) we recvd marching orders Crost
the river near the station turned down
the river taking the Elys Ford road we
march till noon the roads being in bad
condition made it hard travelling
we stoped a short time for dinner & alth
ough our dinner was of the coursest kind
I believe I enjoyed it as well as any
that was sent that day and this is saying
a good deal But true not withstan
ding for excess forms a good appatite
After dinner we moved on purssuing
a narrow stoney road we towards we
reached Ellys Ford on the Rapidann
river Here we lay untill three o clock
the next morn’ when we arose & silently
crost the river on the pontoon which
had been laid down the previous eve’
We marched 4 miles through what is
known as the “Wilderness” when we
struck the plank road running
from Fredericksburg to Gordonsville
Following this road 3 mile the adva
nce of our corps (the 1
st) came upon a
body of cavelry who had burnt a
portion of the 5
th Corps waggon train
Our Brigade deployed as skirmishers
& after fireing a few volleys
put the enemy to flight. Meanwhile
the 2
nd Corps had been hard prest on
the right wing & we were ordered to their
support near Robinson’s Tavern we
arrived there at dusk when we
learned that the enemy was
strongly fortified in front
At day break we formed a line &
advanced one mile through a thick
piece of woods + underbrush sharp
skirmishing taking place constantly
We drove the enemy untill we came
to “One mile Runn” Where they were
strongly fortified Picketts were placed
out + we stoped for a moment (as we
supposed) to breath before making
a chase which would have proven
futal to many of us But Providence
ordered otherwise A sever cold rain storm
came on which continued all that day (27
th) The nest
morn’ was clear but terrible cold, water
froze in our canteens 10 feet from a hot
fire I have not I think experienced
mutch coldes weather in this then the
morn’ of the 28 Notwithstanding the
severity of the weather we was formed
in line to support the 2
nd Regt
of our Div’ while they made a charge
The chasse was sucsesfull Mile
Runn was forded + our pickets scoped
the 1
st line of breastworks The loss in
the 2
nd Brig was about 60 killed
The wounded was obliged to lie
on the field for as soon as any move-
ment was made for there relief a
murderous fire was oppened on them
but the enemy many of our wounded
froze on the field in sight of our columns
on the PM of the 1
st Dec Gen Mead
drew of his forces + prepared to cross
back over the Rapidann one great
reason for this re
[ ? ] movement
was the severity of the weather That
eve’ we slept in the north side of the
Rapidan The next morn’ we marched
up to Morton forde where we stand
one eve’ on the 3
rd we were ordered
to our present locality where we have
been ever since Kellys Fd is about
6 miles down the river from Rapp-
ahannock station + about 4 miles
south east of Brandy’s St It is the
general
[ ? ] that we will stay here
a few weeks at
least
& many even think that we will
stay here all winter but I am afraid
they are premature in this opinoin
Many of the boys have already
commenced putting up log huts
You ask whether I have
[ ? ] deffi
nately where “that rumor” first originated.
I have not. But as reasons I can find
out it was at first based on a suppersition
which as it pass from one to another
was increased comparative speaking from a
mole hill to a mountain I believe at
one time that Capt Hobart placed some
reliance in the report or he would
not have wrote home as he did But
judging at presn’t both he from action &
words he does not entertain the shadow
of an opinion against me in this
matter It seames that Sargt Morgan
though because he (mounted on a fleet horse)
sucseeded in making good his escape
there was no reason why we could not
do the same notwithstanding we were sick
& lame
But granted that we had been each
& all of us mounted upon steeds which
for swiftness were not to be excelled
on foot by “Flosed Temple” we would
not have followed the example set
by our superior, Sargent Morgan for then
certainly we would have been disobeying
orders For we were ordered to the Hospital
& to that place we went To sum the
whole thing up We were censured for
obeying orders by one who disobeyed
the same orders & in this light is
looked upon in “Co B” But allow
me to drop this subject which has
caused me many a sleepless night &
at times led me almost to believe that
“Justice sleeith & falshood prevailith
over Truth & Veracity.” Capt Hobart
has not said anything to me about “thoes”
letters since he wrote to me at College Greene
not knowing at that time that you were feeling so bad
about it I wrote back & told him that I thought
no harm had been done so the subject drop &
has not been refered to since between him &
myself
think he does not know what you
present feelings are upon this subject
you need not sent many more stamps
as I have at last sucseeded in getting
some = I believe it was Capt Hobart
who first informed us last Winter that
Barbary Brand writings was no other
than SAD Fall
[ ? ] It is true however
if one of the same family knows anything
about it Madam Rumor hers it that
the corispondence going on betwee Capt
H & the Authorist be tokens some thing more
then mere friendship I presume you
could enlighten us upon this subject
It is
at least not unfair for us “sogers
boys as member of “Capt Hobarts
militerry family” to know who will
preside over the comming destines of
our
[ ? ] father =, I recvd you
letters of Nov 22nd & 29th they were both filled full
of writing as I like to see them The
reason why I have not sent papers
oftner was because was because I did
not have the right kind of stamps
for the simple one cent
[ ? ] will
not
[ ? ] unless it is made good for two
cents but you have sent me a few
cent stamps + I will trry + send you
a
[ ? ] mpw + then But you will have
to excuse the dirt + grase that is on
them for here a singl paper has to
go the “ground rounds” throughout the Co
Inclosed in one of you letters some time
ago was one from Mother I am sorry that
I
[ ? ] to receipt the same It was not
because the letter was uninteresting for
had it been an order for my discharged
the words would not have been perused
Till within a few days for a long time
pass I have not felt like myself +
hard marching confined combined with
sickness will not made a person memory
any more retenting, + certainity it put a
damper on writing
[ ? ] I recvd
a letter from Edeard a few days ago
[ ? ] Cairo Ill
[ ? ] 28 he was then
on his way home He expected to give you
a surprise but you last letter intimates
otherwise = 1 Dec 28 I had completed the
1
st sheet of this leeter when I was ordered
on pickett this will account for the
[ ? ]
delay
excuse my
penciling
pen & ink
is seasse
SAB
= || =
