Near York Town April 17th [1862]

Dear Wife
It Seams like a long time Since
I have recieved any letter from you and
it has been for it is three weeks or more
Since I have recieved a letter from you
but Still I do not blame you from the
Simple reason that we have not had
regular mail for Some ten days and
perhapse our letters do not go from hear
if Such is the case you cannot receive any
from me The mail has just come in I
recieved a letter from you and was
very glad to hear from you and to
hear that you were well and to hear
that Mother was on the gain I have
wored myself about her considerable
fearing for her recovery but I feel
to thank God that She is on the mend
and I hope that these few lines will
find her in good health and stren-
-gth for I know how to pity a person
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that is sick although I have been bless
-ed with good health and strength Since
I came into the Army day before yesterday
we had quite a fight it lasted they Said
one hour and twenty minutes then the
enemy retreated leaving the field to
us perhapse they thought they would
try our medel if that was the
case they must be excused for they
did but little harm they killed
two of the Sixty third Reg they was
but two Regs engaged in the fight
on our Side while they were Some
four or five thousand of the Rebels
but regardless of the odds we drove them
to their holes or in other words to their
intrechments the 57th and 63th Regs has
the praise of doing the whole work the
Mass 22nd was on the field in the first
of the engagement but fled when the
Shells began to fly but not So with
the Sixty third nor the 57th we recieved
great praise from our general
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for our courage and bravery the
balls flew around our head like bees
in the Summer when they are a Swarming
but as luck would have it we escaped where
after we had ceased fireing there was
a ball came and Struct me on the
thigh but it being a Spent ball it done
no harm only that it made me jump
for it came as hard about as a person
would Send a stone but it did not
make me lame perhaspse it ment
no harm if it did it did no harm
and I have great reason to thank
God that it did not if we do not have
a greater fight than that I shall feel
thankful if all our company
comes out Safe and Sound I Shall
rejoice for it will be a mericle
if we come out Safe and Sound
our company enjoys the best of
health John is the cook for the
company now how long he will
Stay the cootk cook is more than
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I can Say he was out in the Skirmish
we had the boys went into it as though
they intended to make a finish of
it for they rushed on with the utmost
Speed they hollowed like So many
Wolves I guess I have Said enough about
the battle for you will realy think
we have had a fight if we keep on a
writing about it the dollar of money
was in the letter you sent me and I
was glad to get for I was out of money
and tobacco almost I do not want you
Should think hard if I Send a letter
without paying the postage for if we do
not have the Stamps we cannot pay
the postage with money from the Simple
reason that we have no postmaster with
us and it is imposible for us to get postage
Stamps at all times when that is the
case we have to do the best we can I want to
Send a letter as often as once a week let
the case go at as it may when we are
well I guess that I will not write any
more this time but will try to write as
often as once a week I Sent my likeness in
one of the letters I Sent to you but it was not
a good one write often as you can and I will
do the Same This from your Husband and friend
L A Granger