Click here for this soldier’s biography:
https://micivilwar.com/authors/pointon-mair/
Regiment: 6th Wisconsin Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: George Stoneman, James S. Wadsworth, Joseph Hooker
Camp near White Oak Church, Va
May 11th 1863
Dear Brother
I received your most
interesting letter last night. Glad
to hear you are all well as this
leaves me at present. We have had
some hard times since we left
Belle Plain. Our regiment has been where
they was hard fighting but was not
engaged only on the left below
Fredericksburg. On the 28th of April at 12
oclock we left camp marched to the
River near the old Washington Farm
5 miles below Fredericksburg. Early
in the morning of the 29th the Engineer
Corps tried to lay the Pontoon
Bridge across. But the Rebel Sharp
Shooters drove them away every time
The Rebs had to be drove away
and General Wadsworth commanding our
division detailed the 6th Reg
and 24 Michigan to cross the
river in pontoon boats
and drive the rebs from the bank
Rather ticklish work riding across
a river 100 yds wide in an open boat
and an enimy shooting at you all
the time As soon as the order
came to cross the boys fired
a volley and double quicked it
down the bank got in the boats
and pushed off. They fired a few
shots while crossing. As soon as
the boats struck the shore they
gumped out and went up the
hill with a yell, and charge
bayonets The rebs thought that the “
devil”
was after them The way they run
The boys captured over 100 prison
1 man would bring in 5 or 6
Rebs. The boys call that their
naval engagement. night of 29th
the boys throwed up breast works
so to hold their position better
I cant see what we was over there
for unless to keep part of the Rebel
force there while Hooker crossed
at the “United States Ford” which
he did Our Division (1st) was all
that crossed below Fred, the rest
of our corps (1st) staid on this side.
Our division recrossed on 2d May
and the corps. marched to
U.S. Ford. Hooker sent them in
as reserve I did not see the
Regt after the 2d until the 7th
there in this camp so I did not
see any of the fighting on the
Right or at Fredericksburg But
I heard the fireing on the
3d the time Hooker brought
22 pieces of artillery to bear on
them while they was advancing
and driving the 11th Army Corps
He made the rebs turn their
faces the other way The artillery
fired at a rate of 1 gun per
second. Those that heard the
musketry and artillery together
said it was one continual
roll and worst of all the
shells set the woods on fire and
burned some of the wounded
to death. Awful even to think
off. Our cavalry have done
well. they deserve great praise
they bother the Rebs a great
deal Genl Stoneman is the
man in the Right place he make
the cavalry do some thing they
went within two miles of Richmond
tore up and destroyed the
R.R. track between the Rebs here and
Richmond I think if we
would wait the Rebs would
have to come out and fight
us on ground of our own
choosing
You can see by the papers how
things was on the Right better than
I can tell you But I thought
I would tell you what our Regt
did for you get nothing but
Eastern papers and to hear them
tell Eastern troops do it all
The New York papers said the
14th Brooklyn Regt cross on the left
first they did on the pontoon
bridge. There is one good thing
the Genl know whom does the
best fighting eastern or western
troops I heard that his troops
made the first crossing at
every point the 6th on the left
the 3d on the Right and 5 at
Fredericksburg the Genl know
whom to trust Our Regt loss was
small 12 wounded and 3 killed.
1 wounded in our Co (James Whitty)
Well now a word about other
matters You gave me good
advice and I will profit
by it I can guard my thoughts
so none can posses them now
When ever you have any advice
to give me it will be thankfully
received and appreciated by me
I think you have a good
chance to get along now
with the Pottery and of your
Patent succedes I should think
it would be in great demand
after this war is settled we
will try the crockery business
the first thing and I believe
we can make it pay if we
work the thing right and
I believe we can. Mother
is going to build her house
1 1/2 story hight 2 bedrooms –
Pantry and a large room
George is going to build
it at 12 shillings per day
I sent mother 80 Dollars
26th of April have not heard
from it yet sent in by Adams
Express I guess it is all safe
Wyman lent me 30 Dol. and
I sent 50 of my pay we recieved
4 mothings pay $52.00 Wyman is
well sends his respects to all
He is in the “Engineering
Corps” I see him most every
day. I am glad I took a
likeing to him the first time
I saw him We have been
like brothers even since
What belongs to him is mine
and whats mine is his also
I wish you had come down
and seen me while you
was in Washington you could
have got a pass from the
the Provost Marshal Genl
and came in a government
Boat I would not have cost
you anything You had ought
to have gone to the Smith-
sonian Institute I was worth
more than all the rest to
me. I could spend one
week looking at the things
in it. I have not heard
From Fanny for along time
expect a letter tonight. We are
having nice weather now
But while on the march
it rained two day made
the roads very muddy. It makes
the sweat drop from ones nose
to walk far now. I will close
this long letter now with
my love to all.
From your affectionate
Bro Mair Pointon
Co. A, 6th Wisconsin
To P. Pointon
Trenton
New Jersey
