Colby, Lloyd H. – August 24, 1864

Michigan Civil War Collection


Click here for this soldier’s biography: https://micivilwar.com/authors/colby-llyod-h/
Regiment: 6th Wisconsin Infantry Battles Mentioned: Historical Figures: On the Weldon Railroad Aug 24th 1864 Dear Cousin I received your letter of the 14 the other day And glad was I to hear from N. H. The 18th we left our Camp in front of Petersburg our whole Corps was on the move the 2d Division of our Corps was a head It was a verry hard days march it was so verry hot that nearly one 1/3 of our Regiment gave up and the Road side was lined with men that was sun stroke We reached the Rail road about 4 oclock P.M. and by that time the 2d Division had about one mile of the Road torn up we had been there about ½ an hour when the rebs comenced driving in our Skirmisers and before dark we had a verry hard Fight and we lost 19 men out of our Regiment on the Skirmish line dark closed the Battle ther was no Fighting the next day till About 4 oclock in the after noon When the Rebels came down in Solid Column on our Right Flank and ro drove back our line into the open field when our line held them in Check our Artillry drove them back again in this Fight we lost lost 20 men out of our Regiment we went to work the next day and built Breast Works and luckey it was for us that we built Breast Works for the next day the Rebs made 3 charges on our works in front of our Division We captured many Prisoners and Buried 500 dead on the Field the next day and we captured several stand of [ ? ] They was drove back in everry place the Fight was the hardest I ever saw we have 90 men in one Regiment now Captain Hutch of our Company was shot through the head and died on the Field this is the 2d Captain we have lost on this Campaighn Captain Hutch had got his Commision about 10 days before he was shot. I can not think of much news to write this you wanted to know what we had to Eat well I will tell you as near as I can we draw hard bread Coffee Sugar Pork and freash Beaf we have A Plenty of this at least we live on it I like Soldiering full as well as I expected I think the war will be over this Winter at least I hope so we we are a building a fort hear now the Rebs has one more road yet and that is all that 2 miles from hear we can hear the Cars every day Excuse all mistakes and Write as soon as you get ths From your Cousin Lloy. H. Colby