Henry Harrison Wilder to Mother
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In other of your welcom leters com to hand last night it found me as usual you
say you have not hurd from me in the weeks it is rather hard but I think I am
not to blame for I mailed a letter to you the first I was at Newport then we are
15 miles up the James river two miles from the Rebels Forts at Lees Mills I was
within half a mile of ther Forts yesterday on picket. there is a larg body of
them & they are strongley fortified for seven miles in extent from
this plase to York town we have a large forse haer to and are making evry
preparation for a hard battle making bust works intrenchments roads rifle pits
and in fact evry thing to give us us the advantage working day &
night & than has ben thurty of our men shot with in 4 days only one man from
this Reg he was shot in the shoulder the ball went through and lodged in his
napsack five from the 4th 1 or 2 from the 6th 7 from the 49th NY some from the
Batries I have seen some that was hit with shell it was a hard sight some cut
all most in two one had one eye & the side
of his fase blowed off
he was alive when I see him Merrill is not with the Regt he was taken sick and
left behind & I cannot till how he is he was quit sick the last I knew
Mother probbaly within one week from this time thar will have ben a battle at
this plase and perhpas this will be the last time that I may be permited to
write to you but I hope not & this is all that I can do we must hope for the
best & look for the worst give my best respects to all and mutch love to
your self
from your ever afectionate sonH H Wilder