Item No. 0702641

In this letter a soldier of the 26th Massachusetts Volunteers writes of his experience at the First Battle of Deep Bottom. The author is identified only as George, but from some of the names mentioned he is probably a member of Company C. The letter is undated, but was most certainly written about July 30, 1864, while the 26th was aboard ship en route to Washington as part of the force being assembled to defend the capital against the advance of General Jubal Early’s Confederates in the Shenandoah Valley.

In the letter George relates the events of the previous week. He writes:

We left Bermuda Hundreds at the landing on the evening of the 21st at ten o’clock P.M. We marched about eight miles and stopped for the night, or what there was left of it. In the morning we were within one hundred yards of the breastworks at the front what the rebs call Ben Butler’s Slaughter Pen, a tough place seven miles from Petersburg. We stayed there until the 28th, when we received orders at 3 in the morning to get up a go, which we did. We marched about ten miles to a place called Deep Bottom, where we arrived at 3 o’clock. We did not stop long enough to take off our knapsacks, but immediately went on picket where we had some pretty sharp shooting.

George’s regiment had marched to the support of General Winfield Scott Hancock’s 2nd Corps, which had crossed over the James River to make a raid against the Virginia Central Railroad. The raid had the purpose not only of harassing Richmond, but also of possibly forcing General Early to return his rebel troops to Richmond. Blunted by the Confederate defenders at Deep Bottom, however, Hancock’s troops made few gains. George adds in the letter that while picketing “for 24 hours we did not lose a man from our regt, but the regt we relieved lost two men and the 14th Maine relieved us lost two.” He continues:

Our batteries were shelling the Johnnys all day. They were throwing up breastworks about eighteen hundred yards in front of us. We came off picket at nine o’clock the next morning and worked all day. About 6 o’clock that eve our batteries opened on the rebs and shelled them out of their works. That night we commenced to evacuate our works. We then returned to Bermuda Hundreds.

After recrossing the James River, the 26th returned to City Point to board the steamer Sentinel for the journey to Washington. George writes:

At ten o’clock we came on board of this slow motion crab of a steamer. We ought to be in Washington by this time, but shall not get there much before noon tomorrow. We have not got room to set down. We have to sit up all night—a very good thing when you go a courting, but rather unpleasant now. The boys are in good spirits, but feel rather jacked out as they have not had any rest for five days and nights, and nothing to eat. They may tell how well they live in the army in Va. I notice all we can get is raw salt pork and hard bread made with Isinglass. It is so hard that we take our boot heels to break it up. But the boys say it is all in a lifetime. All of the 19th Army Corps is in Washington but us. I think that we shall go to Harpers Ferry. It will take more than thirty months of this kind of life to kill me. I will not die in the Army.

The letter was written on four pages of a 5” x 8” letter sheet. Light foxing and toning. Creased at the original folds. The full transcript appears below:

Head Quarters 26th Regt. Mass. Vols
On Board Steamer Sentinel
In Potomac River

Dear Brother and Sister
I how take this opportunity to write you a few lines, not knowing when I may have another chance. I am as well as can be expected and hope this will find you all the same. We left Bermuda Hundreds at the landing on the evening of the 21st at ten o’clock P.M. We marched about eight miles and stopped for the night, or what there was left of it. In the morning we were within one hundred yards of the breastworks at the front what the rebs call Ben Butler’s Slaughter Pen, a tough place seven miles from Petersburg. We stayed there until the 28th, when we received orders at 3 in the morning to get up a go, which we did. We marched about ten miles to a place called Deep Bottom, where we arrived at 3 o’clock. We did not stop long enough to take off our knapsacks, but immediately went on picket where we had some pretty sharp shooting. For 24 hours we did not lose a man from our regt, but the regt we relieved lost two men and the 14th Maine relieved us lost two. Our batteries were shelling the Johnnys all day. They were throwing up breastworks about eighteen hundred yards in front of us. We came off picket at nine o’clock the next morning and worked all day. About 6 o’clock that eve our batteries opened on the rebs and shelled them out of their works. That night we commenced to evacuate our works. We then returned to Bermuda Hundreds. At the Slaughter Pen all we had to eat was hard bread and coffee. It was terrible hot. A great many were sun struck. We got into camp at noon, but it was six o’clock before all of the boys got in.

That night at one o’clock we started up again and marched to the landing about 8 miles. At ten o’clock we came on board of this slow motion crab of a steamer. We ought to be in Washington by this time, but shall not get there much before noon tomorrow. We have not got room to set down. We have to sit up all night—a very good thing when you go a courting, but rather unpleasant now. The boys are in good spirits, but feel rather jacked out as they have not had any rest for five days and nights, and nothing to eat. They may tell how well they live in the army in Va. I notice all we can get is raw salt pork and hard bread made with Isinglass. It is so hard that we take our boot heels to break it up. But the boys say it is all in a lifetime. All of the 19th Army Corps is in Washington but us. I think that we shall go to Harpers Ferry. It will take more than thirty months of this kind of life to kill me. I will not die in the Army.

I have not heard from home since Hattie wrote May 23rd, so I do not know hardly how to write. I saw Amandus Richardson about ten minutes before I came on board of this raft. He is well and sends his respects to all. Rufus Willis is well, but I did not see him yesterday. Bill Crocket sends his respects and would like a little of that cider in the morning. I would like to be with you a little while tonight and take a little supper I bet. I want you to write as soon as you receive this, and if you have got a small greenback about his shape (V) send it to me if not too much trouble. Don’t put yourself out. I should like very much to hear from Hattie. I am a going to write to her and direct to Vienna, for I expect she has gone from before this time.

I will now draw my letter to a close, hoping to hear from you soon.
I remain as Ever your Affectionate Brother
George

I don’t know when you will hear from me again, if ever. Give my respects to all. Tell Hattie to write and I will answer if possible. Good night.