Kennesaw Mountain Battle Letterfrom Sgt Willard Chapin (WIA Resaca) Extensive 10 PP, 8vo in ink. With Envelop and an additional Envelope.
Mrs.
W. L. Chapin
Livonia Station
Livingston Co.
New York
Letter
no. 28
Camp
136 Regt. N.Y.V.I.
Near Marietta Ga.
June 20th 1864
My
Own Darling Kittie
It
has been some days since I wrote you last – have not had a chance to write
since the 13th date of my last – and it seem that I have written one since – if
I did I did not make any note of it – I have recd. two letters from you within
the last week dated on the 4th & the other the 8th inst. You wrote of our
folks not being in so destitute a condition as was represented cant see why
they should write to them if they are not as bad – I do not understand about
what you wrote what Zelia wrote and then denied writing any such thing – but I
will let that drop – only when I am paid I want to send money to them and
enough to pay the South Livonia folks what they gave them I should thought they
could have as much as called on our folks at least – no doubt – but what Mother
thinks that hers is a hard lot and why should she not – she is old and, we must
take all due allowance for what she may say – it is to bad after they have
worked so hard all their life to have to do now and if I can help them some it
is my duty to do so – but I will say no more about this subject – We moved out
from our breast works where we had stayed so long the 15th and advanced the
whole line some wheres about two miles the 1st Brig of our Div was immediately
ahead of us, we supported them the 2d
Brig in reserve we advanced close on to the Rebels works and in front of a
battery of 8 guns where they were well fortified with as strong works as I have
seen – as we advanced through an open field-ground maneuver and then we came
into a piece wood just like all woods in this country as thick with under brush
as can be – but we got into them and advanced about half way through then and halted
and layed down for the "Rebs” had commenced throwing in the shot & shell
with ever a fury and it would seem a miracle if we escaped and not get hurt,
much more being killed – but the Regt never lost a man killed
or
wounded while we lay here on this day or the next and some of the shell would
burst so close that I could feel the hot air in my face and the pieces would
fly all around us – after a little our line was advanced some three hundred
yards where we lay on our arms for the rest of the night – I lay down on a
piece of bark with my "over coat” & Rubber on and slept so good while I did
sleep at the first peep of day we were up and at work building breast works to
protect us from their "minnies”, that they occasionally sent over to us – this
was the morning of the 15th Dan came up with breakfast – reported that the old horse
had played out – would have to get another horse soon – we got up good breast
works and as it bid fare to be a warm day we put up boughs to keep sun off from
us and lay there all day until night where we were to relieve the 1st Brig –
but just at dusk the Rebels commenced throwing the shell and shot again in
perfect torrents but none where hurt – after this we marched to the left and
relived the 1st Brigade. I was detailed
in charge of the skirmishers that was to go out to relieve theirs. Got out on
the line and my men posted all right with out any trouble through there was a
good deal of firing from the Rebels but their bullets passed harmlessly over
our heads they kept this up until about 2 o’clock A.M. when they stopped – and
I suppose they commenced their retreat at that time as we found out in the
morning that they had gone – I was relived about 3 ½ o’clock in the morning
came in and found a letter from you and my hat had come by mail, had to sit
down and read the letter first the hat is just the thing one wants here – had
my breakfast and lay down and went to sleep – had good rest, always think of
you when I lay down. After waking went over in the "Reb” works, and I must say
that their works were the most formidable that I ever saw it would have been
almost impossible to have charged up and taken them. Came back and read the
Tribune that you sent me – soon after had orders to fall in – after laying
around some time – we started following the 2d Brig. Came out into the open field formed in line of
battle and marched through a piece of woods to conceal our movement from the
enemy – we finely came out where we could see where their "batteries” were ours
soon got into position and this was the first chance that we had had to see any
Artillery practice of this campaign – it was a splendid sight if I was going to
war again it would be in that arm of the service – we went into Camp this night
in line of battle our Brigade in mass in line of battle – there was a continual
firing on the skirmish line all night – our camp was in a Oat field did not
ditch around our tent enough and it did not have a very great boughs under us –
it commenced raining about 10 o’clock and rained steady the rest of the night –
just at day light got up and went, made a misstep and went in to the mud &
water head first – so that I had to wash my pants off and it rained as hard as
it could pore down and wet me to the skin – went back to the tent and sit down
when the water came rushing through under us and wetting every thing that we
had in the tent. "dug out” and made a
deeper ditch around the "Sheburry”, this was the 18th it rained about all day
long kept in 4th & 14th A.C. have been fighting all day on our left to
advance their lines as far as ours are we are directly west from Marietta about
four miles.
There
was whiskey rations issued to the men today an account of its being so wet –
had no trouble about it, I do not drink – was very near sick today Dave got
some more boughs and put in the tent got my feet dry and layed down to sleep –
and did have a good one 19th did not get up very early this morning no firing
on skirmish line this morning – the belief is that the "Rebs” have dug – a
detail of twenty five men and an officer is called for from our Regt to go on a
reconnaissance Capt. Curtiss was the officer that went – the General was
sounded about 9 o’clock A.M. we took up the line of march our Brig taking the
lead the roads were awful we had two creeks to cross and the bridges were good
for nothing – our boys went in up to their knees in mud and water, my feet were
as wet as they could be and it commenced to raining and it seems that I never
saw it rain harder, we lay down after we got across the last stream where we
rested for an hour and a half and then our Brigade was ordered to take an
position more to the right on the extreme right of our Corps we got into position
with the 1st Brigade as support we formed the edge of a wheat field beside the
woods and threw out skirmishers and let them advance we following close to them
and so marched something over a mile, when we came up with the Rebels
skirmishers we lay down – but afore we lay a man in Co I by the name of
Harrison Clemons was shot in the abdomen – lived until just after dark – was a
fine man – we had three men in all killed & wounded in our Regt today none
from Co "C” have been very lucky since Resaca our line was almost a half mile
in advance of the rest of those on our right and left – after dark we fell back
about on a line with them and drawed in our skirmishers a little.
The
2d Brigade had been building breastworks and we formed a line behind them – got
supper which I began to feel the want of very much as I did not eat much
breakfast & had not any dinner but a "hard tack, lay down with my wet
clothes and covered up with a woolen blanket – and how nicely I did sleep – was
not disturbed through the night – Col Faulkner said that we were in about two
miles of Marietta it seems to be Joes Hooker policy to get to Marietta if it is
possible as Howard & Palmer have tried to long and have not made it out yet
– and I guess he will beat them – and now I must stop for it is most time for
the mail to out – and I cant write any more – we have not moved today and the
probability is that we will lay here all night – hope so – and now darling
"Kittie” Good by may God Bless you and protect you love to mother kiss the
darling boys for me remember me kindly to all the friends you do not write or
whether you hear from Nelson or not – Ten thousand kisses dear from Your Willie
dear