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Regiment: 5th Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned: Fair Oaks, Virginia
Historical Figures:
Dollie
[ ? ] James A Forman
Camp Near Fair Oaks April 19
Dear Dollie
I have just come in from
picket and am tired and sleepy but
I suppose I shall have to write to
you as it is Saturday we were out forty
eight hours. the rebels were all along our
lines but we did not get into a fuss
with them. we have now a parallel
established some eight miles. artillery
all placed in position. Rifle pits to
protect it. the woods all cut in front
for over a half a mile. Monday we
expect to advance drive in the rebel
pickets and establish a new line
this is the way we are going to get
into Richmond. we shall undoubtedly
have a scrape with them Monday
but by advancing in this way there
will not be half the loss of life
that there would by making a general
advance without any protection. it
may perhaps take two months but
probably not. we are almost suffering
here for the want of water. we can get
none but surface water we dig holes
and then wait for it to soak in
Williams has gone back to the rear to the
hospital I hardly know what is the matter
of him Ingalls is not on duty he has ails
of some sort Bill Read is also unwell
and is also off duty thus leavening me
along as you know Alt Read is in
the hospital department.
James Saxie has just returned to the
Co from Washington you reccollect
him at St. Johns he was badly
wounded at Williamsburgh
Charles Gregory has gone home sick
but our Captain has got well
and is now with us. I believe I
told you that our 1st Lieut Knox
was wounded he I think has now
gone home to his wife where I
suppose she will take good care of
him as she did last winter when
she was with him for we all noticed
that he got pretty poor he was a good
fellow and we all liked him. I believe
the boys all fairly worship our Captain
Mathews but he has now a verry small
company to command he could only
raise eight well men to go on Picket
Sunday morning
I had to quite writing yesterday as we had
orders to fall in our Picket guard was
attackted two or three times yesterday
afternoon and evening. this morning
we were called up at ½ past 2 oclock
and have been laying under arms ever
since we broke ranks for a few
moments and I will try and finish
your letter. I believe I have tried to tell
you what a picket guard was. how
do you think some of your stay at home
boys would like it on our outposts
some dark rainy midnight hour
standing all alone in the thick woods
with the expectations of evry few moments
of hearing a bullet whistle by ones
head or perhaps through it as many
have. or even after a battle to hear
the groans of the wounded and dying
for we have to stay in the ground
all night or to visit the hospital
where arms and legs are piled up
by amputations. I can hardly
see how the surgeons can stand
it they will cut and slash a
man as a butcher would cutting
up a beef or hog. There enough
of this. Dollie did you notice the
total eclipse of the moon on the
night of June 11th we were out
on picket then as reserve and
were aroused up by the report
that the rebels were advancing
on us when we lay down it was
a beautifiul moonlight evening
but when called up the moon darkened
