Ransom W. Towle to Sister and Friends
Primary tabs
We the Army of the Potomac are here in camp probably to stop for a Day or two to
rest up get our Supplies of fodder along and I think waiting for Banks and
McDowell to come up to the ring We seem to be having a sort of Bear hunt, but I
am afraid the Bear will escape before we can get a Good Ring formed. We are now
within twenty five miles of Richmond and I suppose shall move on it in a few
Days. We get authentic news of the Destruction of the Merrimac and the
occupation of Norfolk by our Troops under Command of Lincoln in Person I should
think this would tend to discourage the Rebels, as it deprives them of their
principal reliance on water, and
lets our Gunboats up the James
River which will give them trouble in the direction of Richmond. It is the
opinion of some that they will make a final stand at Richmond but I would quite
as soon think they would fall back into the Gulf States and trust to hot weather
and sickness to do what they cannot - exterminate us. Skirmishing goes on all
the time between the Enemies Pickets and our advance lines and their treatment
of those who fall into their hands justifies all the charges I ever heard
brought against them for inhuman barbarity and cruelty. Out of respect for
Mothers Nerves I will omit facts of Scenes that I have witnessed. Deserters and
Negroes come in most every Day. They all agree that the Rebel Army are a good
deal demoralized and discouraged – that the mass of their army knows nothing of
what is going on Some of the Prisoners taken say they knew nothing of the Battle
of Ft. Donelson or Ft. Pulaski and had been made to believe the fight at
Pittsburg Landing a glorious victory for them. Even one Lieut. taken prisoner at
the battle of Ft. Pulaski said that whatever our Success had been or might be,
there was one place we never could take on being asked what it was, he said
Island No. 10. They have no regularity of Dress but seem to wear what they can
get Some of their haversacks found on the Battlefield at the Williamsburg were
partly filled with raw wheat and corn Some contained bread and bacon. Most of
the Guns they threw away in their flights were Springfield Guns yet many were
Shot Guns and some of them flintlock. The portion of the field that the Vt 4th
picked
over we found 445 Guns how many on other portions I dont
know. The weather here is warm as the middle of July in Vt. one man in Co K has
died from Sunstroke Wheat is from fifteen to thirty inches high and looking well
Corn is looking well and about the size for first hoeing in Vt. I have seen very
little grass but we are now encamped in a clover field that is just heading out
Prospect for Peaches and Apples good This is a fine Country and I should like a
Plantation on the James Dont know when I can send this we get mails more readily
than we can send them dont stop writing or sending the Flagg
Ever the same, Ransom