Ransom W. Towle to Friends
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I am short of funds and short of writing materials my letters necessarily grow
scattering. There are no signs of an immediate General Engagement unless the
Rebels begin it. This Battle of Richmond which so many are so anxiously looking
for is and has been going on for a month and may be continued for two months to
come. I think the Siege of Richmond will as it has thus far been carried on by
Artillery No Day passes without more or less shelling. Our lines are being daily
crowded upon the Enemy with a safety and caution
very annoying to
the Enemy they seem to have expected us to pitch headlong into their Rifle Pits
and Masked Batteries. But Mc is not the man our Army is in good Spirits
confident of Success while theirs theirs are becoming demoralized and Decimated
by desertion two Deserters came into this Camp Today They say they are impressed
men and natives of Mass They say there is much dissatisfaction in the Rebel army
on account of forcibly retaining many Soldiers whose term of Enlistments have
run out. Some of them say they are short fed others that they have plenty
probably both stories are true. While some get enough others are short One
Battery of 20 lb Parrot Guns Rifled came over the River yesterday and some old
Buildings just to the right of our Camp to plant them Yesterday our lines on the
left were advanced half a mile to get possession of a Bluff on which to plant a
Battery, the ground was hotly contested but gained after severe fighting and
heavy loss Cannonading was also kept up all Day loss I dont know the figures but
heavy No day passes without more or less loss on both sides Last night about ten
oclock there was an alarm which called us out under arms in line of Battle
caused by a Dash of the Rebs on our Picquets but it only amounted to a little
firing and in half an hour we turned in again Today all is quiet I may write
less frequently from necessity unless something unusual occurs.
Ever the Same Ransom