Headquarters 56th Mass. Vols.,
Near Petersburg, Va., June 19,1864.
Dear Hannah, — . . . Day before yesterday we were in a hard fight. We charged the enemy’s rifle-pits in our front, and took them. We formed under the crest of a hill in two lines of battle, our regiment forming part of the first line, and charged over two hundred yards over an open field, carrying the works, and capturing about 60 prisoners. The men behaved splendidly, as usual. I was in command of the brigade, Colonel Gould commanding two brigades. I came out safely, without a scratch, although we were under a very heavy fire indeed.
To-day we are in the reserve resting our men, although we may be ordered into action at any minute. Our men hold the Petersburg & Norfolk R. R., and our skirmishers are in the outskirts of the city. We shall probably gain the city itself in a day or two, although it will take some hard fighting to do so, as Lee now has his whole force in and around the city. If we get possession of the city, then Richmond must fall in time. Things look better to me now than they have at any time during the campaign. . . .
Thomas of Jamaica Plain has been missing since a skirmish we had on the Chickahominy on June 1. He is probably taken prisoner. Meagher of Jamaica Plain was wounded day before yesterday in five places, the most serious one being in his hand. I understand that all the rest were flesh wounds and that he will recover. He was wounded while on the enemy’s breast-works, and behaved very well. Richmond Hayes of Jamaica Plain is safe. He behaved very bravely day before yesterday.
I am very well indeed. Health good in every respect. Spend my nights on the ground wherever we may happen to be, most of the time without any shelter and without any covering or blankets. I find that I can stand almost anything in the way of exposure.
There are about 170 men left in the regiment, 170 fighting men, I mean. Every fight we go into reduces us terribly.
Things begin to look like a siege now. I doubt if much more charging is done. We shall rely on our heavy guns and shovels a great deal. Such a course is absolutely necessary, I think. Grant has wasted a great many of his men in useless charges, and a few days must be given to recuperate and reorganize. I think that the losses since we left Bealeton Station must be very nearly 70,000 men. I may place the figures pretty high, but I think that it is a correct estimate. Of course, when we have time to collect the slightly wounded and the stragglers, this number will be reduced some thousands. . . .
