Winter Posey to his father J. H. Posey
7 Jun 1862 – Richmond, VA
Richmond, VA
June 7, 1862
Dear Father,
I have concluded to write you a few lines, although I have no news of interest.
Mainly writing to inform you how we are getting on and thinking it will make you
write oftener. It has been nearly three months since I have received a letter
from any of you. You must know I am getting very anxious to hear how you are all
getting on. I would like to know how you are prospering in farming and the
general news of the country. What has become of the conscripts and what you
think about the surrender of New Orleans and etc.
Coby is doing well, His health continues good. I hear from him about twice a
week. I am doing tolerable well still boarding at Mr. Penneston’s. A private
house just out in the edge of the city. I have had a diarrhea for six weeks.
Something like Chronic diarrhea. I can check them (bowels) up for a day or two
but they will break loose again. I intend dieting myself, see if that wont do
some good. I think by checking them up again with Laudruim and returning to
camp, live on crackers a while, I will get well in a week or ten days. Since I
have written to you, we have lost a member of our company, Terrel Sanders. He
died in the Hospital at some 3 days ago. He made an excellent soldier, will be
missed very much in the company, his disease was intermittent fevers, the health
of our company is improving. I was in town yesterday, saw General Johnson he
says our regiment was sent back in reserve which I am very glad to hear and we
have been kept on outpost duty all the time since the time armies have met.
I suppose you have heard of the two day Battle fought near Richmond. It will
hardly be necessary for me to say anything about it as you will get all the
particulars before this reaches you but I will give you a short scetch of the
commencement etc. On the 30th of May., General McClelland made an advance
movement on our forces, crossed over the Checkahournay River with about 40
thousand men. (which was before this dividing line), that night there came a
tremendous storm and rain raised the river at our generals thought so that the
enemy could not reinforce but they have built bridges across the river and had
pretty strong fortification about 4 o’clock 31st May General Johnson ordered
two divisions to go down and attack them. The roads being so boggy and hard to
fight them in the woods and swamp our forces could not use any artillery. Our
forces pitched into them with muskets, charged their batteries drove them from
their fortification captured all their artillery which amounted to some 30 fire
field pieces. They fought in mud and water both days a part of the time up to
waste butchering each other up like hogs. Those on the field the likes never
know before with the same number of men. You might walk on dead bodies for a
mile without touching the ground. The losses on both sides was very heavy. Then
the enemy surpassed to a great deal the heaviest. We captured 500 prisoners. The
enemy report 4000 killed and of course great many more wounded. Our loss is
supposed to be 2000 killed and wounded. Both sides occupy their original
positions. Both armies have gone to digging dirt. I expect it will be sometime
before the general battle is fought. Our division was not in this fight.
(Remainder of letter is missing).
