Headquarters Third Brigade, P. R. C.
Camp in sight of spires of Richmond,
June 21, 1862
Dear Father and Mother:-
The last letter I wrote you was from Fredericksburg and in it I told you that our Division was on its way to Richmond and promised an account of my trip which I will endeavor to give now. I had not heard from you for two weeks until last night when I received yours of May 21st and of June 10th and one also from Frank.
Owing to unavoidable delays I did not embark until Friday afternoon, June 13th, about 2:00 P. M. We dropped down the river a short distance and anchored until morning of June 14th when we started at sunrise and got four miles below Tappahannock when we grounded and lay all night. June 15th, the tide carried us off the shoals and after going about ten miles further grounded again and had to wait four hours until high tide. Finally got adrift again and steamed down to a little bay at Windmill Point at the mouth of the Rappahannock where we anchored, staying all night and until noon the next day on account of the rough sea out on the bay. June 16th, started at noon and steamed down the bay and up the York River to Yorktown where we lay at anchor all night. June 17th, we coaled and started up the river for White House where we landed at 4 P.M. June 18th, started to join the rest of the Division which occupies the extreme right of the army before Richmond. Marched to Gaines’ Mill and encamped for the night. June 19th, joined the Division near Mechanicsville and are now within five miles of Richmond. We can see the rebels in numbers and hear the music of their bands, even now I hear their drums beating as if for dress parade. We are not across the Chicahominy but our piquets are on one side and the rebels on the other. At Meadow Bridge ours stands on one end and the rebel piquets on the other end. They have made an agreement not to shoot at one another but woe betide the officer who shows himself for he is sure to be shot at. There has been but little firing to-day, but yesterday the artillery kept up a constant roar. There was one shell, an eight-inch one, thrown which came directly over the headquarters and fell about 150 feet from us, exploding and shattering the limbs of the trees in a terrific way. It was thrown from a large gun about a mile and a half from us. They shelled the Second Brigade yesterday and they had to move further back to get out of the way of the rebel gunners. The music which a shell eight or ten inches in diameter makes in flying through the air is not very enchanting you may be sure. I picked up a piece of the one thrown so near us yesterday. It was thrown from a sixty-four pounder.
There are three or four balloons with this army which go up daily and make observations. They can see down into the streets of Richmond and all the army of the enemy, their positions, etc. I can give you no idea of when we will have a general engagement.
I saw Everill Chadwich [Chadwick] yesterday but Sylvanus is with that part of the “Bucktails” who are with Shields or Ord. Everill saw Cousin (?) Ingram, who is now Captain of the company in the 84th which Merrick Housler had. The last Everill heard of Penrose, he was at the General Hospital in Philadelphia, shot through the ankle or leg.
The 4th Cavalry will be with us in a day or so. It is now dark and I will close for the night and finish to-morrow or the next day.
Sabbath afternoon, June 22, 1862
This morning at daybreak we were aroused by the call “to arms” as it was expected the rebels were to attack us, but up to this hour all is quiet. However, General McClellan has ordered us to have arms stacked in line of battle and be ready to fall in at a moment’s warning. I saw General McClellan, the two French princes and the rest of his staff yesterday. He is always busied riding along the lines and superintending the trenches and earthworks.
This army is stretched along the Chicahominy about ten or twelve miles. There is just enough excitement here now to make it interesting—everyone is on the qui vive.
I am still employed in the office of the Assistant Auditor General. I have heard nothing of Harvey Jolly, but suppose Gilson is with his regiment, the 105th, as also Steadman. We are now in the same Corps d’Armee, the 5th, commanded by Brigadier General Fitz John Porter. If I get time I will go and hunt them up. I will write to Frank this week. All the Venango boys are well as far as I know.
I have written a note to Mary which you will please hand to her. I do not know if she can read it, but I presume Shippen can. [1] I will endeavor to keep you posted as well as I can. I think you may look for an engagement before long. I received the three papers sent.
Borton’s Sharpsooters are encamped within a short distance of us. I am afraid George Junkin colors his statements somewhat. His regiment is not allowed any more privileges than the rest. He has not killed as many rebels as he says he has, I guess.
I will close, remaining, Your affectionate son, James
Next posting: July 3, 2012
Jonathan E. Helmreich
College Historian
Allegheny College
Meadville, PA 16335
[1] Mary was James’s youngest sibling, five years of age at the time of his enlistment. Shippen was his youngest brother, eight years old at the time James joined the army.