Benton, Thomas H. – April 16, 1862

Michigan Civil War Collection Letters


Click here for this soldier’s biography: https://micivilwar.com/authors/benton-thomas-h/
Regiment: 19th Indiana Infantry Battles Mentioned: Historical Figures: Camp near Warrington Junction, Va. Apr. 16~ 1862 Dear Father: I received your letter some days ago and have not had an opportunity of answering until this time. We I wrote to you last, we were at Bristoe Station, about ten miles further back. We came here on last Saturday, and have a very nice campground on the banks of the Cedar River. They have finished the railroad to the river, and last evening completed the bridge across it. All the way from here to Manassas, the railroad track had been torn up and bridges burnt. The way they took of ruining the iron was to build a fire and lay them across it, and the heat bent them. The track is torn up to the Rappahannock River, which is about fifteen miles from hers. We are about eight miles from the town of Warrington. The boys are spending all their leisure time in fishing in Cedar Creek for eels and other fish. There is said to be a good many guerillas between us and the river, who pick up everyone they find from the Union forces. The infantry picket line is only about two miles from here. There are but few inhabitants in this part of the country; all have left. We are camped within a mile of the 16th Indiana Regt., and it seemed like being at home, seeing so many Richmond boys. They will go home in a month, so their time is almost up. I suppose we have been brought here to guard the railroad, etc. At least that is what we are now doing. It takes almost three hundred guards from our regt. every day. Lieut. Hindman arrived here last Sunday with the recruits. Capt. Dudley has not joined us yet. I was over to the 16th Regt. yesterday, and while there called in it to see Dr. Fisher, and found him a little under the weather. Direct your letters as usual to Washington; they come to us from there on the railroad. Give my love to mother and all the rest, Your son, T. H. Benton