Click here for this soldier’s biography:
https://micivilwar.com/authors/foreman-james-a/
Regiment: 5th Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned: Fair Oaks, Virginia
Historical Figures: Hiram G. Berry, Philip Kearny
Thursday Afternoon April 5th
My Dear Dollie
I think I wrote you last Saturday
morning but believe my time was so limited I
could not write you much. little did I think
on that morning what was to follow before
night. we marched about four miles pitched
our shelter tents and was trying to make ourselves
as comfortable as possible when the order came
for us to fall in. from the heavy cannonading
we heard in front we expected a fight. I
must own that I felt a little cowardly at
first but when we got up where the artillery
was and saw them pouring the grape and
canister into the rebels my courage rose and as
the wounded were carried past us I felt like
pitching into them and that I could whip a
dozen of them. it was a hard contested Battle
and in some parts of the field some of the
Pennsylvania troops run but I believe the
account of the battle will cary me out in
saying that we drove them I mean our
Brigade which has three Michigan regiments in
it and one new York. they fought like tigers
at one time they were nearly surrounded with
Gen Kearney our General. he said to them
boys make a hole through there they started at
a charge bayonet and went through and made
the rebels skedaddle
We have had to laugh at Gen Kearney he has
but one arm. the other was shot off dureing
the Mexican war in the fight the other day
he had two ball holes shot through the
[ ? ] of his missing arm also one through
his cap and coat tail. Gen Berrysaid our
assistant Adjutant Gen was shot through
the head and killed instantly. the Adjutant
of our regiment one captain were also instantly
killed another martally wounded two other Capts
were wounded and nearly half the Lieutenants
our Co is without a commissioned officer
the only one with us was wounded verry
bad our Co is nearly all gone we lost
sixteen in killed and wounded I think
our regiment went in with but few
over there hundred men and one hundred
and fifty three was killed or wounded
we now no but little over two hundred and
forty effective men. truly a sad difference
from the condition we left Michigan in
we then numbered nine hundred and sixty
one more fight will wipe us out it will
undoubtedly make the old saying good
[ ? ] times
and out it seems almost miraculous that
the boys from Clinton have escaped so will all
came out safe but it cannot be but what
our chances will come next time Case Wickam
and John Blanchard were both killed in the
third Regiment. I sometimes think we shall
ever get to Richmond for the rebels outnumber
us and I sometimes think are equally as good
men to fight only that we have the adva
antage of them in arms and equipments
Monday following the fight I was detailed to help
bury the dead but such a sickening sight I never
wish to see again the dead were all swollen and
had turned Black and the maggots were
crawling all over them dead horses were
laying all over the field Blankets guns
canteens and everything that we have to have
but alas where was there owners
this may be glory but please we back to when
I was one year ago and others might have
the honors and I would be content to live for
wife and child. Dear me am I never to see you
again sometimes I think not can it be so
when I love you so much and think of you so
often. night before last we were out on picket
it rained verry hard all night we were drenched
to the skin and have not got dry yet it has
been so damp and rainy it rains verry often
here it is said it is on account of so much
cannonading yesterday I had letters from Alma
folks were all well. What a good dinner
we had it was composed of pork and beans
a think quite unusual for us and if we stay
here we shall have potatoes for supper, we generally
have to do our own cooking now we make our coffee
in our tin cups and fry meat when we get
on our plates, and when we can get soap we
wash our shirts wont I be a house keeper
if I ever get back to you and Paul. god grant
that I may Dollie may be I was heatless but dureing the
fight as steped over a dead
[ ? ] a pulled a watch off
him it was a lever watch. Ingalls also got one
ever time Jim
Enclosed I send you some poetry
