Headquarters 5th Prov. Army Corps,
Camp near New Bridge, June 1, 1862.
Dear Father, — We have been ready all day to start out, and join in the fight which has been going on,[1] but unfortunately the Chickahominy has been overflowed by the recent heavy rains, so that it is a swamp on both sides of the stream, making it impassable for artillery. We shall have to delay our advance,— that is, the advance of our corps, until the water subsides. The day has been hot and sultry, and I therefore hope that by to-morrow we shall be able to cross over the stream at New Bridge. So far we have been successful, Heintzelman having driven them to-day a mile and a quarter at the point of the bayonet. Yesterday afternoon they attacked us, driving back Casey’s division, and then being driven back by Kearny’s division. The fighting lasted till 8 o’clock in the evening, the firing, in the general’s language, being terrific. It sounded so to us certainly, who were about three miles distant, and what must it have been for those who were in the fight. We could hear whole vollies of musketry, but the firing most of the time was by file, the guns keeping up a continual pop pop, for several minutes at a time. Then the artillery firing at times would be very severe. This morning the firing began at 5 o’clock and continued pretty lively till 10 o’clock, since which time it has been pretty quiet. The men in the balloon say that they could see the roads from Richmond full of soldiers, coming out to reinforce their men. We have captured to-day two generals and several field officers. Among the captured yesterday was Lieutenant Washington (I think it must be the one who left College a year ago. John Bushrod Washington is the lieutenant’s name), an aide of General Johnston’s, who came into our lines by mistake. The name of one of the generals taken is Pettigrew. The other one refuses to give his name. . . .
I am wholly well now, my cough having left me, and my strength having returned. I feel fully prepared for a summer’s campaign and think that with care I shall get along very well. . . .
