Langworthy, Andrew J. – July 19, 1861

Michigan Civil War Collection Letters


Click here for this soldier’s biography: https://micivilwar.com/authors/langworthy-andrew-j/
Regiment: 2nd Wisconsin Infantry Battles Mentioned: Blackburn’s Ford, Virginia Historical Figures: Near Manassus Junction July 19th 1861 My dear Mollie Your good letter was recd before I left camp Rek, but press of business and our sudden departure prevented my ansring before now, and even how i am sheltered by a blanket from the [ ? ]tting sun in an open field. Sweating like a butcher, writing on my knee, so that I do not expect it will be done quite as well as you would do it we left Camp Peck on Tuesday morning lost travelled ten miles to Vienna with provis ions for 3 days on our backs. found the enemy had scampered before we got there. the next day went to Fairfax Court House but they were too [   ?   ] fur us then and had taken to their huts, on Thursday we marched to Centreville and found they had Evacuated their fortifications before our ar rival. In this afternoon however the 12th New York regiment while I cooling about two miles beyond our Camp suddenly came up a marked battery of 26 guns, which opened fire on them. We were immediately sent for and upon our arrival were halted in the direct line of fire so that the balls made dreadful music about our ears for an hour or so when the enemy were [   ?   ] with great loss the partic ulars of which I have not as yet as certained. The 2d Wisonsin were highly complimented for standing their ground so well but not being in sight the most of the balls went over our heads and made sad havoc among the trees. Three from filling in Co B of La Crosse were wounded. One named Gardner had his leg badly shattered by a rifled cannon shot and died this morning. One was shot in the ancle and the other was somewhat injured in the face. I cannot say that I fill the least fear through the entire action, indeed my entire thoughts were with my men whom i feared might get injured through the caveless manner in which they fired their guns. After the ac tion we advanced two miles farther in toward the junction where we encamped and remain to day, for scouts to look ahead of us. There are now 60,000 to 70,000 men here and hear here so that we shall make [ ? ] work of incipion when we fairly got to work at three It would amuse you very much to see how we live. Every thing is cooked in sheet-iron kettles. This morning we made a kittle of coffee afterward I used the Iame kittle for frying some pork. Afterward for frying beef and probably this evening if will be used for making coffee again maybe without washing. As we left Camp Peck on a forced march we took no cooking utensils with us except our five large kittles. We get plenty of onions which you know suits me well. Although the inhab- itants flu on our approach leaving houses lands and vegetables at our mercy. The country is very poor. Although we find fat cattle, sheep + Chickens which we take for our use + [ ? ] Andrew was at Camp Peck when we left and told me he would write you. I want you should write me again soon as I write so uncomfortably I will close, love to mother and the rest of the family. I will                                        Your affectionate father write mother next opportunity A.J. Langworthy