Lyman S. Williams to Parents
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I take this opportun ity to write a few words to you this morning to let you know
that I am well and still in the land of the living. I presume that you have heard of
our retreat across the paninsula to the James River. The rebels followed us very
closley so that there was a fight every day along some portion of our lines yet our
brigade was in only one fight and that was on Sunday night the 29th of June near
Savage Station and I tell you the bullets and grape shot flew thick and fast around
us some of them passed very close to me yet I was not hurt
In that fight
we drove the rebels back in confusion as we have in every engagement since we left
our old camp. The rebels have shelled us out of our camp twice since we commenced our
retreat but we formed each time under cover of the woods and our batteries soon
silenced the rebels Our retreat has been in the night mostley we holding the enemy in
check during the day Our Division has occupied the front all of the time since we
came into the field untill since the retreat when we have been placed as rear guard
to cover our retreat and now we are in the front again I think we have retreated for
the last time. We have got the enemy out of his entrenc- hments and now I think we
will soon give them a good thrashing. The fourth of July we were
reviewed by Gen McClellan and staff. All has been quiet in front of our lines since
the 3rd inst.
In the fight Sunday night which I spoke off Cor. H. T. Moseley was wounded and left
behind at the Hospital at the mercy of the enemy also privates G. Martin, J. Boyl are
known to be wounded. privates F. Story C. Wickware, G. Starks and E. McGlauflen have
not been seen since the fight and what has become of them is not known. Those are all
that are missing from our Co. I think Our brigade has all been paid off except our
Regt and we were to be paid the day we were shelled out of our old camp on the
Chickahomina and he skedadled and has not been heard from
since whether
he stoped before he got to Vt I know not. I am sorry to say that Mr R. B. Mellen of
Essex is dead. He died the night of the 28th of June so the doctor of this regiment
informed me this morning so it is undoubtably correct. He had been in the hospital
for a number of days previous and was not expected to live. I pity his folks and the
good people of Essex ought to see that they do not suffer for anything. I have
nothing more to write at present.
As ever your Aff. SonLyman S. Williams
Washington
D. C.