Click here for this soldier’s biography:
https://micivilwar.com/authors/benton-thomas-h/
Regiment: 19th Indiana Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: Nathaniel P. Banks
Fredericksburg, Va. June 22nd 1862
Dear Father:
I received your letter of the 16th and find you are
still under the impression that we are at Front Royal,
under Banks. We are not, nor have we been. When we started
to reinforce him, we did not go any farther than Haymarket.
We have been here upwards of a week, and a fair
prospect of staying here for some time to come. I
thought we should go on towards Richmond when the balance
of the division came up, but they have all been
here for some days.
It is now thought our brigade will guard the railroad
between here and Richmond. The bridge across the
Rappahannock River is rebuilt, and the cars are now running
over it. There have been several men drowned in the river
since we came here, but none were from our regt. Col.
Meredith’s hostler attempted to commit suicide day
before yesterday by cutting his throat, but did not
succeed. The col. is now at Washington. He has
gone to recruit his health. The wild fruit is now getting
ripe here, such as raspberries, cherries, etc. Yesterday I
was out and found plenty of them. To persons living on
nothing but meat and bread for a year, they are very
acceptable. Since we have been here our rations are
considerably better than they have been for sometime. We
now get fresh bread every day. There is a government bakery
at Falmouth. Give my love to mother and all the rest. Your
son,
T. H. Benton
