Leverett Bradley: A Soldier-Boy’s Letters (1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery.)

Diary And Memoranda, 1864

June 4th. Arrived in N. Y.

Diary And Memoranda, 1864

June 3rd. Started for the scene of war. Father went with me to Boston. (He was ordered to go by Albany on business by the capt. of his company.)

Diary And Memoranda, 1864

May 19th. (At home) The 1st Mass. H. A. in action. Co. B lost more than any company in the Regiment [53 killed and wounded]. George Bricket was killed.

[Up to this time, besides his duty as private in the ranks, he had also been serving as company clerk. He was at home on a veteran’s furlough in May, 1864, when the regiment was ordered to join the advance of the whole army under Grant, and he was obliged to read in the papers of the terrible loss it sustained in the battle of the Wilderness on May 19th, where, in the afternoon, while repulsing Ewell’s corps, the regiment lost in one short hour 898 men. His own Company, B, lost in killed and wounded over half of their entire number. In this battle his cousin George Wellington Brickett, of Company B, was instantly killed in the first charge made on the enemy, and another cousin, Asa Frye, was wounded. Fortunately, his brother, also a member of the company, but acting at the time as regimental bugler, escaped uninjured.

With these terrible facts before him, it required a great deal of courage to leave home to join the regiment, knowing that a severe campaign was before them. He rejoined the regiment during the last day of the battle of Cold Harbor, and was first under fire with the regiment, fighting as infantry, at the first assault on Petersburg by the Second Army Corps, to which the regiment was attached, on the evening of June 16, when the regiment again lost heavily. Leverett received a bullet through his shirt-sleeve which lodged in his coat, which was rolled on his back. The coat had some eight different holes in it, and was a wonderment to all those who saw it the next day, when it was exhibited.—Ed.]

Diary And Memoranda, 1864

May 7th. Arriv’d home on vet. furlough.

Diary And Memoranda, 1864

Apr. 5th. Went to the theatre on Monday, where Edwin Forrest was playing Macbeth. It was the first time I ever saw him. It was splendid. I must say there is a charm in tragedy that captivates me.

Diary And Memoranda, 1864

Mar. 31st. It is just a week ago that I took the oath to stand by the flag three years more. Have had quite a correspondance from home; I guess they are not dissatisfied.

Diary And Memoranda, 1864

Mar. 25th. I am a Veteran Volunteer and of course stuck for three years more! Going over after bounty and pay tomorrow. Do not intend to take my furlough till May. Three years more seems a long time but guess I am good for it.

Diary And Memoranda, 1864

Mar. 21st. On account of slight illness I have been unable to keep my book. On the 16th, Co. B moved to Fort Woodbury. I like it very well. Col. T. is trying to get the reg’t into the field as Light Infantry; I hope he will succeed. I intend to re-enlist tomorrow.

Diary And Memoranda, 1864

Mar. 12th. Camp life begins to look like a dull affair; am not so anxious to come out with my pretty gun as at first. Have just come in from parade, have eaten supper and now my thoughts wander to friends and relatives at home and the good times I used to have. It would be impossible to count the number of times that my mind turns toward it during the day, still I am contented.