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Regiment: 1st U.S. Volunteers Sharpshooters
Battles Mentioned: Yorktown, Virginia
Historical Figures: Irvin McDowell, Nathaniel P. Banks
Camp Near Yorktown Va.
April 16th 1862
My Mary.
Still no fight simply
throwing a few shot to range the guns.
By Christmas (I dont say next Christmas
remember that) you may expect the news
“Yorktown is ours.” One more S.S. shot
this morning. No knowing whose turn
it will be next. our co. have been lucky
thus far. I suppose because we are the biggest
Devils and they do say he cares for his own.
Our Gun boats lay in the York river
in sight of us. you should see them belch
forth their thunder once in a while.
You should have received my
letters thanking you for your picture before
writing your letter of the sixth. for I got it
shortly after we got to Hampton. It
is warm here to day to warm to fight
I hope they will put off such business
until cold weather by that time Banks and
McDowell will have Richmond and be down
here in the rear of Yorktown and scare
the Secesh into a surrender. “Do you see
George Bs plan any where.” Who wants to
fight if they can help it.
Since commencing this thing
has been a brisk cannonnading on our
left. it is reported we have captured twelve
guns and lost fifty men. we have just
got partial news of the great Battle in
in the South went. If the half is true
the carnage was terrible. My God, I would
not wish to be in such a battle. at least
while the battle was going on, but after
it was over it would be
[ ? ] enough
for any reasonable soldier.
“You may send by telegraph
to my address a few sweeting of
maple sugar. if you please. I have
some doubt about ever seeing Richmond
because after this battle we will pos-
sibly take a stack in another direction
We will not have any thing to do
with scouting the Bogus Confederacy.
We were paid last Sunday
but the mails are so irregular that
I hardly dare send you any money just
now. I have twenty dollars I should
send if it were safe. we will be paid
in less than a month again. When
I hope to be where I can send money
with safety. Please write me if you
are any way short for money and I
will send some by sending a little
at a time and run the risk of
losing it. Appearances are
that amid the roar of cannon
I shall get to bed and I knew I
shall sleep soundly. and I must
admit the whizzing of their shells
sound better at the distance of a mile
or more. Strange it may seem but is
neverless true.
Your with love and a kiss
Gardner
