James A. May was from Guilford County, North Carolina and served as a private in Co. E, 22nd North Carolina Infantry.His letter describes the Battle of Seven Pines (Fair Oaks) which took place on May 31 – June 1, 1862. Brigade commander James Johnston Pettigrew was wounded and taken prisoner, not killed as May reported. Col. Charles E. Lightfoot was also captured. The regiment lost 147 men in the fight. Although May described the wound he received in the battle as “slight,” he died as a consequence of the wound about two weeks after writing this letter.