Headquarters Porter’s Div., 3d Army Corps,
Camp No. 5, April 18, 1862.
Dear Mother, — The siege of Yorktown has not yet begun, and will not I am afraid for a week to come. We have skirmishes almost every night, some of their forces rushing out and firing a few rounds, and then running back again as fast as they can. Cannonading goes on from one morning to another without ceasing. It does not come from our whole line at once, but is kept up on any of their working parties we see, and by them upon our gunboats and barges. It seems strange to hear the reports of heavy guns, and the whistling of shot all the time, but one soon gets used to it. At times, as last night, the firing becomes pretty rapid, and then we are all routed out, to go to bed again in a few minutes. The enemy made an attack last night upon our pickets, but withdrew as quickly as they came out, but making us all leave our beds to repel them. The place is a perfect Paradise for fleas and wood-ticks. They abound in every place, and are the bane of one’s existence. The country is very level and swampy, the ground near the river being much broken up by deep ravines, which are not visible until one comes within a few feet of them. I am very careful about the dampness, and have boards all over the floor of my tent. The nights are a little chilly, but not nearly as bad and damp as I expected them to be. There is a delightful breeze to-day which cools the air, and makes it feel soft and balmy. It is a pleasant change from the last few days, which have been extremely hot. . . .
I have a request, Mother, to make of you, and one which I depend on you to have carried out. Don’t let any of the girls or female relatives come on to take care of me, in case I am wounded. Nothing would be more unpleasant to me or make me feel so anxious as the idea that Father should allow any such thing. This is no place at all for women, — a thing which many of them cannot realize. I mention this because Hannah has frequently spoken of the Hortons staying at home, as being very strange. They are perfectly right. A woman in a place like this would be a source of trouble and anxiety to a wounded soldier. James will be able to take care of me in case of any such necessity, which I hope will not exist.
We must have over 100,000 men here now, and 295 cannon. One hundred guns compose the siege train, and among them are some of the heaviest guns and mortars used in the service. The remaining 195 guns are light artillery. Our corps under the command of Heintzelman consists of 34,810 men. Of these our division has 13,400. We have 64 guns, and about 2000 cavalry in the corps.
The 1st Massachusetts is in our corps, and also the 11th Massachusetts. I am going over to see Sergeant Brazier, and Rice, in a day or two.
My man was going in bathing in the river yesterday when a round shot flew over him close to his head. It stopped his bathing for the day. General Porter sent him to dig it up, which he did, and on weighing it, it turned out to be a 64-pounder. It was fired from Yorktown at some of our boats in the river. . . .
