Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams
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As I have a few moments leisure this P.M. I will improve a few of them in writing
to you It has been some time since I wrote to you and I have received only one
letter from you in a long long time and I am in hopes that now it will be so
that I can write to you all oftener then I have been able to do for the last
month at least but this must be my excuse. I went into the 5th Regt. a little
over a month ago and I found
everything there at loose ends and it
toock every moment of my spare time to straiten out and arrange things there so
that together with our marches, fighting & picket duty my time was all
occupied & I did not feel like writing I returned to my Regt. the 16th of
this month and now I have my hands full there as I have had two Companys here
beside a good many other dutys to perform but I am in hopes that I shall not
have so much to do for the future. I am well tough and hardy as ever. Now I will
tell you of our fight of the 19th of this month just one month from our victory
at Winchester. In the
first place our line was formed in this
manner. The 8th Corps occupied the left of our Infantry, the 19th Corps the
Center and our Corps (the 6th) the right of the army, then came the Cavalry
on still further on the right. The Enemy had been heavily
reinforced and came around the left of our army and surprised the pickets and
attacted the 8th Corps before they were out of their [bases]
and before day light completely surprising them and driving them back in
confusion on to the 19th and they in turn gave way and then our Corps toock the
front and held the enemy in check for two hours or more when we were compeled us
to fall back as they had turned
boath our flanks and the rebels had
it all their own way and captured a number of prisoners, a number of pieces of
Artillery and Camp and Garrison Equipage and some clothing and not only
defeating us but it was a complete rout. During the A M. things look gloomy
enough but just then Gen Sheridan came up from Martinsburg riding for dear life
and as soon as the men saw him those that were going to the rear faced about and
started for the front again and those of us that had already formed line again
moved forward and held the enemy untill Sheridan had reformed the army in line.
When Sheridan came in sight and you ought to have
[heard] the boys cheer him as he rode along our lines.
Everything loocked as cheering and a few moments before it had looked gloomy.
Even the wounded who he met along the line raised their voices in cheer after
cheer as he came in sight. Such is the confidence we have in our noble
General.
After Gen. Sheridan had seen that all was as he wished he ordered the bugles
sounded to advance when the whole line started the 6th Corps in front We in turn
turned their left and pushing on drove every thing before us recapturing what we
had lost in the morning and over a thousand prisoners a number of battle flags
their
their whole train of waggons and all their artillery numbering
upwards of thirty pieces more than they toock from us in the morning and
scattered and completly routing them and drove them beyond Wood- stock The day
turned out a glorious day for us and the Union. I cannot tell our loss in killed
and wounded yet. In our Regt. we lost two Capts wounded viz. Kinney &
Kenedy. In my Co.”I” we lost three wounded viz. Corpl. Boyington, Privates
Mathers & Porter. Sergt. Swan and Privates Tebo and Lister are missing. You
do not know any of them but Mortimer Lister and we are in hopes that he will
come in in a few days. I escaped unhurt
but was struck twice with
spent balls but I am all right yet. Our Division is now encamped about Strasburg
in advance of our army doing picket duty and I have just come in from a two days
picket tour. We now hold Fishers hill which is strongly fortified and has always
been considered the strongest position in the valley. We have now only three
officers with us in the Regt. so we are all kept pretty buisy at present. I
received a letter from Nathan a few days ago and shall answer it to night if I
have to set up all night. Give my love to all the folks at home and remember
that I am always glad to get a letter from
you. I cannot write much
more at present Give Carrie a kiss for me. &c.
This from your aff brother Lyman S Williams
Co. C. 6th Regt.
Vt. Vols.
Washington D.C.
Oct 24th
I want a pair of light gloves sent to me by mail also a few ten
cent stamps. Postage stamps I mean. I will also send Cheque of 50. dollars
which I want you to hand to Father for him to get the money on to pay for
the fifty which he sent me.
Lyman