Battle of Fair Oaks

Item LTR-11167

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 3 pages, written in period ink.


Camp Near Fair Oaks, VA
June 23, 1862
 
My Dear Tinee,
 
I am under the impression I received time since a short epistle from my dear daughter but from some cause or other failed to reply to it.  If so, I must excuse myself by saying the frequent changes of position and lately the loss of our tents on the first day battle at Fair Oaks rendered it a very inconvenient matter to write and more particularly as we have had nothing but rain, rain the whole time until within the last few days.
 
Perhaps you would like to know how we happened to lose our tents?  Well, we were encamped in the advance of the army on the road to Richmond, having General Casey’s command only in front of us and as the Rebels had been in the habit of firing every day on our pickets and sometimes throwing a few shells among us, the day of the attack no attention was paid them.  I was writing at the time when a cannon ball and a shell which had not exploded were brought in to me soon after the firing began to increase.  I got up and told English to pack up everything and put it into the wagon as a matter of precaution, but to leave the tents standing.  Besides, dinner had just been announced.  And men were about to set down to it, when an order came to get under arms.  And to somewhat to our disappointment for it was a better dinner than usual.  The dinner remained untouched and English says they had scarcely had time to get the wagons out of the way before the rebels came rushing over the very same ground.  Driving Casey’s troops before them in great haste.  The next day, some of our troops went back to look at the camp and found the tents still there but perfectly riddled with bullets and all about laying on the ground.  Several bodies also lying on them.  I imagine again, the rebels were too busy about this time to avail themselves of our dinner which was some consolation.  Though we have gotten a set of new ones and are as comfortable as hot weather and leeches will admit of.  I have a very clever set of gentlemen for my staff.  All of whom are very kind and attentive to all my wants.  Which is, as a matter of course, very gratifying.  My volunteer aid, the Chaplain of the 61^st Pennsylvania Regiment, the Reverend William Oliver makes me a punch every day about 12 noon and another just before we go to bed.  We then take a another, have prayers and go to bed.  If we have an alarm at night, he is the first to jump up and call for his horse and I verily believe, if I were to tell him to go and ask the enemy what they want by disturbing us in that way, he would do it in a minute.  He is a fighting person and a most excellent one too.
 
I feel the want of my summer clothing very much.  Adams Express is in operation as far as the White House, perhaps it would be as well to risk its safe arrival.  Tell your Ma if she concludes to send them, to notify me.  That I may send someone down to look after their arrival.  Say also her letter of the 16^th has just come to hand.  Appleton desires to be kindly remembered.  Say to Sallie and Muse, I shall write to them very soon.
 
 
 
 
 
My love to all the family and respects to inquiring friends.  Tell my Ida, Miss Annie, I have some idea of ordering her on to join me, in place of Lieutenant Conover.  Ida, Mary I send a kiss for herself and Eugene A.A.
 
Your affectionate father,
 
J. J. Abercrombie
 
Ernestine Abercrombie
Frederick, MD