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(envelope) Mrs. Eliza Mervine
Medina
(Orleans Co.) New York
in pencil: A good war letter from "the front" 1864
Deep Bottom Va
Augt 27 1864
My dear Lizzie:
I received yours of
21st last evening. I feared you would be very uneasy about me, but indeed I could not write sooner than I did. You have doubtless received two letters from me this week one of them enclosing Allotment, and are relieved from all anxiety on my account. We left the trenches before Petersburg at dark on the evening of the 24th & after a tedious & fatiguing night march through woods & fields over the worst of roads crowded with troops of all descriptions. Artillery, Ammunition, forage & baggage trains going both ways. We reached Point of Rocks about 3 O'clock a.m. & camped in the north bank of the Appomattox. Resumed our march soon after day- light & reached this place about noon. We are on the East Bank of the James River - ten miles in a straight line from Richmond. Some three or four from Bermuda Hundred (across the river) and 2 1/2 from Dutch Bend where Butter is dig- ging the Canal. We occupy two little forts or redouts near the banks of the river & are supported by a Division of Colored troops. Two Gun Boats & one "monitor." We are delightfully situated with abundance of fine Spring Water handy - Strong works, "Good fishing & every thing pleasant so far. The Rebs in our immediate vicinity are quiet & seem well disposed. Not a gun fired from either side since we came here. It seems strange to be where there are no Screaming-whizzing Shell or solid shot hurtling through the air. No minnie balls buzzing about our ears continually night & day. Though how long this state of affairs will last is very uncertain. It was only yesterday afternoon the colored troops came here & relieved a division of whites from the 10 Corps. The Rebs are particularly bitter on the nigger soldier. Yesterday & the day before our boys on picket were on the best of terms with the Rebel pickets. We went close to their lines & exchanged papers with them - gathered green corn unmolested. Yet only last tuesday three days previous the 10th Corps had a desperate fight here- losing several hundred men & sunday the Second Corps fought at Strawberry [Plain?] within sight & about a mile from where I am now writing. Perhaps ere you receive this We may have an opportunity to use our pieces, though all is now so quiet - nothing to indicate that hostile forces are in our neighbor- hood. Occasionally at long intervals we hear the booming of Cannon in the direction of Dutch bend & Fort Darling. The next night after we left Petersburg the 5th Corps had a desperate fight for the possession of the point on the RR they had taken some days before. From what I hear I gather that they were getting the worst of it, till reinforced by the 9th Corps, who saved them from per- haps annihilation. They still hold the Rail Road & I believe have made some advance. Lee is reported to have said "he would retake the road if it cost him 50,000 men. I think he can scarcely afford to lose so many just now.
I am deeply grieved at the news
from home. Dear Grandma, I pray she may be spared to us a little longer & that I may be permitted to see her yet again. I have thought many a time (& grieved over it not a little that I did not) that I ought to have stayed one day longer, regardless of consequences, at home in Utica last February. I did not even have an opportunity to bed Grandma "Good bye" and yet at the time I could not but think I might never see her again. And poor dear Mother with her many cares & anxieties, and miserable health. How I grieve for her. How glad [?] were it possible would I bear her burden. I shall feel the deepest anxiety for all till I hear again. Do write me imme diately if you get news. In regard to Cap I thought it strange I heard nothing from him, as he promised to see me & I could not possibly visit him since as I have been in the trenches all the time except when I was sick. I think very likely he is in hospital at Old Point Comfort or City Point, thought the 5th Corps have a field Hospital some two or three miles from Corps Hd Qrs. I shall do all I can to find out about him. If you write to Mother or Emily tell them to write to him if they with & direct as usual- It will reach him.
My health is good again and I am
getting strong & hearty - have pretty good living now. I bought a [Shoulder?] from a contraband on the march for a dollar (It would cost five at the Sutters) bought flour & Sugar. Had a catfish for breakfast which I caught last evening. I have a voracious ap- petite since my sickness & find some difficulty in satisfying it. I only hope we may stay here a month or two in quietude. Then I will be willing to go in the trenches again or wherever I may be needed. We are on the home stretch now - the last year & the time will pass swiftly till another summer about 1st June - then will be three months. The last three will drag - but I will not anticipate.
God grant you & the children
good health - enough to eat & wear for your comfort & a speedy end to this cruel war. And I will not regret that I have given three years of my life - or my life itself if necessary to my country. But I want to see the war ended as it should be ended for all time with the union of all the states slavery abolished. Copperheads and dishonest politicians abreviated. I intend to go for another Cat- fish tonight - if the johnnies remain quiet. I must improve the time while here - for it is seldom indeed I have opportunity to indulge my favorite passion.
These shells came from the trenches
near Petersburg - I have a little trinket made from clay 60 feet under ground - under the fort Burnside blew up which I want to send - if chance offers.
With much love to all
Ever Your devoted Henry
(written on edge of 5th page) Do not get uneasy about me if I am slow to write some time be sure you will hear of it soon enough if anything serious befalls me.
