Headquarters 56th Mass. Vols.,
Near Petersburg, Va., June 28, 1864.
Dear Hannah, — I am happy to say that I receive a letter from you every few days. Please keep on writing, as all news from home is very pleasant in this outlandish hole. . . .
We are still here in front of Petersburg, making preparations for a siege. I am glad of it, for I don’t care about charging any more breastworks just at present. It is rather unpleasant work, although it will do by way of pastime once in a great while.
We are in the second line of rifle-pits, but have to go to-night to relieve the brigade occupying the front line. I lose a few men by stray bullets coming over, but on the whole consider the regiment in quite a good position.
I saw John Jones to-day. He is on General Turner’s staff in Tenth Corps. He is very well. Am very well myself, as I have been all along. . . .
The rebels have been amusing themselves this afternoon by throwing mortar-shells at us. We have several going all the time. You don’t know how prettily they look at night. You can see a tail of fire after the shell as it describes an arc in its passage. “Distance lends enchantment to the view.”
What sort of a time did you have Class Day? We were almost melted. I never suffered so from heat in my life. Several men were sun-struck. . . .
