Poolesville,------- As I hear-------------------------------------- will write a few lines . I have received the box sent to me from home. It arrived sonn after I had got in from the battle field, and just after I had written you a letter. I opened it, and among many other things, I found something to eat, and having eaten nothing for a day and a night I was some hungry. I eat some of Mrs Schumac’s cake and some of your cheese, and it tasted good I assure you. I then found Miller and Cheney, but McKinstry was missing, and has not yet been found. Tell Mrs. Plimpton that her brother is safe and unhurt. I also found Charles Hapgood, who is safe. Our Regiment has 380 killed, wounded and missing. Sixty are wounded, three of whom have died since yesterday, two have their legs and three their arms cut off. It is awful to see the poor fellows suffer. Some are shot in the head, some in the back part of the body, some in the breast, some in the legs, some have part of their hands shot off, some are made cripples for life, and some are begging the doctor to kill them. Lieut. Grout, of our company, was shot while swimming the river. Our men presented a shocking appearance, some of them were covered with blood and mud from head to foot. The rebels said if all the men had fought as our regiment did they would have been driven back. We have got two rebel prisoners in our camp. We did not retreat until ordered to. After fighting until he saw the enemy were too many for us, Col. Devens told us to run for life. We expect to go into the fight again, what is left of us, and we all wish to. |