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Regiment: 1st Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
[twocolumns]
Harrisons Landing Va
Aug 4th 1862
My dear Florence
My letter of Sat. + Sunday
was not written for the reason that we were out
on duty for more than 24 hours. You have
probably read of the shelling of our camp by the rebel
artillery on the morning of the 1
st. We were awa-
-kened about 1 oclk by the report of the enemy guns
+ the whistling + explosion of shells in our im-
-mediate vicinity. I have been in some
dangerous positions line in the service, but
I was never more frightened in my life then
when I first awoke. The enemy fired
very careless +
[ ? ] shot very
near us. Our Co. is now near the left. A man
of the 13
th N.Y. was struck, on our right was the Cols. Tent
+ mortally wounded.
A “Li
[ ? ]ley” tent in the
rear of ours not 3 rods away was shot
through the ball
striking struck the ground near the
center of the tent + ricochetd passinng just
over the ridge of ours. The ball tore a bed
in pieces but luckily the owner had just left it.
We took the matter very quietly. In our tent
there are 7 of us, I not one left his bed.
The next day a party of 4
th Infantry + the 16
th
Mich went over + destroyed the buildings that
had been the harbor of a nest of rebels for a long
time. The next day the 4
th Mich went over + did picket
duty through the day. We relieved them at night + had
the p
[ ? ] of establishing the first line of night
pickets on the other side of the James. Early the next
–Sunday– A.M. A party of some 400 Cavalry under
Col. Aowill came over. We furnished a detail
of 4 Cos. + they “put out” on a reconnosance.
About 4 miles out they came up to the enemy
cavalry who after firing a volley fled. Our
boys unhorsed two + took them prisoner, a
Lit. Col. + Capt. A singular fact connected
with this affair is that the Infantry pre-
ceded the cavalry all the time. We do
not expect a notice from the N.Y. or
Pa, papers it being their habit to overlook
generally, all parts taken by Western troops.
One of the best Regiments in this branch
in this Army is the 8
th Ill Cavalry, but
one sees their name rarely in Eastern
papers. We came back last night
tired a good deal. We expect work
on the other side all the time, but we are ready
Matters at home are quiet too quiet for
me. If a goodly portion of the able-bodied
men of the north who should enlist could be
with us for a week. I am sure they would
take steps to end the matter. I will write noth-
ing but war news, or of the Army. You will
pardon me, but I was never before so whole
-ly engaged in the work. Now all should
renew their efforts + act instead of wait. We
expect hard picket duty on the other side
of the James. We do not get news
regular neither do letters come prompt. I have
not read any of yours since the one of the 20
th ult.
I saw Charly Parsons this A.M. Jenny has
been quite ill. No doubt anxiety the cause.
It must be that our friends at home suffer more
than we. We have the danger + exertion, but
at the same time the excitement the more
intense keeps us up + until all is over
we do not cannot think cooly of the passing
or surrounding horrors + dangers. With you
it must be all different. I shall look for
your letters often. My love to your Errastus.
I shall try to leave next month if we are in
a position to admit of it if I can I will come to
you. Always darling Your Wm Byrns
[On Envelope:]
A few years more a few years less
What endless it any brother
[ ? ] duty done will fearless pass
From this world to the other
Miss Florence Clark
Care A. B. Clark
Yalesburg
Illinois
If we fall on the battlefield
Friends let there be no sighting
There is in all the universe
No better place for dying.
[ ? ] No. 87
August 4
th 1862
Harrisons Bar, Va.[/twocolumns]
