Click here for this soldier’s biography:
https://micivilwar.com/authors/franklin-luther/
Regiment: 5th Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Camp near Fair Oak
Thursday June 26th /62
Dear Parents it is now all
quiet in front of us at prese
nt our Regt is out + has
been since yesterday morning
Yesterday there was some hard
fighting in front of us but
the 5
th was not until just
at night when the rebels at
tacted the Mass. 16
th who broke
+ run breaking through our Regt
but they were not broke up long
for in five minutes they were
in line again as good as ever
on came the rebels after the
fruming 16
th Mass but they
soon found a stopping place
in front of the 5
th Mich +
37
th N.Y. who poured a volleys
in them that checked their career
+ they fell back a short distance
+ stoped + commenced firing
with but little execution as the
brush was so thick that they
over shot us we advanced on
them + they fell back we
held the ground. This Regt
lost had three men wounded
the Sergeant Major included
We had the best of the rebels
all day driving them back
at
about 2 miles we took
2 large guns + their rifle fit
Our guns that go with a
crank raised sin with them
we got them to bear on their
lines and then pourd into
them evry time the crank
comes around the gun goes off
you may turn as fast as you
have a mind to they throw
lead pretty fast. The fight
commenced about 12 oclock yes-
terday AM + lasted about
two hours + not more firing
was heard until near night
when we could hear an occa-
sional voley. In the night
about 10 oclock there was
some heavy firing in front
it lasted but a short time
at 3 oclock this morning
they commenced again but were
soon silenced. Our men
held all the ground they
gained. This morning they
are quite still.
My health is about the same
a usual I gain very slow
you can tell something about
how poor I am by my weight
which is only 137 lbs. I can
Span my arm with my thumb
and finger above the elbow
I got a letter from Elbridge
of the 18
th he is doing well.
He advised me to apply for
my discharge but I will not
until we get in Richmond
+ then if I get no better
I shall try to get it.
I shall send you some sesesh
money in this letter 2 bills a
5 + 10 which I got for 20 cts
from one of our boys that got
it somewhere. I thought they
would be a curiosity to you
+ the folks around there.
I got a dollars worth as stamps
the other day I got 29 for a
dollar one of our boys sent to
Ft. Monroe + got them
I cannot write any more
at present so I wil close
by wishing you all good luck
From Your Affectionate Son
Luther Franklin
J Franklin
[On Envelope:]
John Franklin
Pompeii
Gratiot Co
Mich
From Luther
June 26th /62
Camp near
Fair Oaks
