6th New York Heavy Artillery - Petersburg Battle Letter - NEW

Item LTR-12133

Description

Original Civil War letter. 4 pages written in period ink.


In the field front of Petersburg
 
July 6^th 1864
 
Dear Brother,
 
Yours of the June 28 came to hand on the fourth. It found me enjoying excellent health and in good spirits. There is very little news to write. We are still in the same position we occupied when I last wrote you, in the center of the lines facing Petersburg, the church spires of which loom up to our view very distinctly.
 
It is now over two weeks since we advanced here, and no forward or backward movement has been made by either line in that time. That is the center about where we are. But what General Grant is doing on the right or left of the line, I cannot surmise, but am under the impression that he is not idle, and will do anything that will make the Johnnies open their eyes one of these fine mornings.
 
The weather has been very warm lately, and as we haven't had much rain, the dust is so deep, it makes one feel very disagreeable. The springs are also getting very low, owing to the scarcity of rain. Yesterday, Company C was out on picket or skirmish line about 50 yd from our line of breastworks. Holes are dug in the ground every 10, 15, or 20 feet apart, large enough to hold two, three, or five men. There, we have to stay 24 hours when we are relieved by some other company. This has to be done after dark, for it would be rather dangerous to relieve the pickets in the daytime when our lines are so close to each other. Picnic shooting is the worst kind of warfare, but they are firing constantly night and day at each other, about 0.25 mi to the right of us. Although the Rebels' picket and ours are in plain sight all the time, at our part of the line, we do not fire at each other. While we were out yesterday, one of the Johnnies stood up on their works and shook a paper at us and sung out to exchange. One of the boys from the regiment advanced from the breastworks halfway across the field with a paper in his hand.
 
When the Rebels sung out to him to go back and take off that shirt, he had on a fire shirt, and I suppose they mistook him for a fire Zouave, of which body of men they are down on. As Paul had a paper, he went halfway across the field and exchanged with the Johnny. Paul sent the paper home the same day. Neither of them had their arms with them, you must remember, and would not be allowed to talk with each other.
 
Alexander McIntyre was cleaning his gun when it went off accidentally. He is now at City Point, and the last time I heard from him, he was doing well. I presume he will be sent to Washington as soon as possible.
 
I believe I did not tell you that Nat Archer was wounded by a shell the day we advanced here, the 18th of June, I think, and has since died. Captain Morris, who was on Riker's Island with me, left the regiment sick about the time they broke up winter quarters, and has been home until July 2nd, when he came back and is now with us again. We have heard nothing about John Julian. Last night, I could hear the Rebels' band playing. One tune was "When This Cruel War Is Over," and it was played well, too.
 
As this is the 4th of July, it came quite natural for us to ask each other as soon as we turned out where we intended spending it and in what manner.  Some was going to this place and some to that, but I guess they all came to the conclusion, at least I know that I did, that our Uncle Samuel would not give his consent to any such arrangements, but would keep us here under his watchful eye for the present.
 
It gave me great pleasure to receive a letter from Frank and Mary yesterday, the 3rd, and would be very happy to answer it if circumstances permit it.  I should be very happy to receive any paper from home if it were not too much trouble to send them.
 
George Wallen keeps well, as also do Paul and John Lonsbury. I do not believe that the army was ever supplied with food as well as they have been this summer. It requires a smart man to keep such an army as ours well supplied with rations.  Grant has done it, though, and given us something that we did not get last summer, in the shape of potatoes, beans, dried apples. Not many, of course, but then enough to say that we had these things. 
 
I can think of nothing more present, so we'll close. Love to all the folks and kind regards to all inquiring friends. Hoping soon to hear from home again, and trusting that I will be spared to see home and kind friends again before long.
 
I remain yours truly,
 
Samuel B. Pierce
Company C, 6th New York Heavy Artillery
Third Brigade
Second Division
Washington DC