150 Years Ago (1864 9/15)

Clifton Farm, Va.

Sept. 15^th, 1864.

Dearest Abiah,

Went on picket Monday. Left a letter to be sent out that night, as there was a man going out, but came in and still find it here. It was not sent by some mistake, so now will let it go for what it is worth, and give you a new addition. We see no signs of moving, but we never know what the day may bring forth. We went on picket Monday, as I said before. On Tuesday our division were taken out on a scout towards Winchester. They went out about five miles and came back at some time in the night between 10 and 11. Our division had eight men wounded; three in the brigade, two in the 11^th regiment, Lieutenant Duval, Co. H. and a private in
the same company, and one man in the 4^th Regt. don’t know the name of Company. The Lieut. lost a leg and the private a leg and arm. The man in the 4^th died yesterday. The Companies from our Regiment were on picket; the rest were on the right of the column as flankers. Flankers march at a proper distance from the column to prevent the enemy from observing the strength of the column and to prevent surprise. The flankers are deployed and march in single file. They arrest some distance apart. I saved the march by being on picket. Our division went out to arms, the enemy in front, while about a thousand of Willson’s cavalry went around to find out how matters stood near Winchester. They were very successful; captured about three hundred prisoners, among them the whole of the 8^th South Carolina that bear arms. I saw Stephen Hinman the next day. He was out there. You will find on some maps a small creek called Pek and spelled Opequan. I believe that the turnpike that runs from Winchester to Berryville crosses this creek. The turnpike for two miles on the Winchester side runs through a deep ravine. The rebs had a cavalry picket on this side of the creek and an infantry picket on the other. Our cavalry drove the feb cavalry in a hurry and took several of them.

The 8^th South Carolina men on picket took refuge in a thick piece of woods. They had not time to go to their breast works that commanded the entrance to the ravine on the Winchester end. Our cavalry pressed them, they lying close, thinking to escape. The cavalry dismounted a part of their force and entered the wood on one side, and mounted men surrounded the woods on the other sides and there was no way of escape, and they surrendered the entire regiment, Colonel colors and all. In surrounding the wood, there was a small ravine, and the rebs had a few men in this ravine to watch the motion of things. The cavalry charged upon them and they did not fire much, but threw down their arms. Stephen was in this place. He was ahead. There were three men that ran towards the woods, Stephen after them. He soon came near one, a young fellow, and he thought from the appearance of things that he was intending to surrender, and did not fire upon him. The feb stopped about three rods from him. They were abreast, Stephen waiting for him to throw down his gun. They remained there for a little while and the reb drew up his gun and fired and killed Stephen’s horse. Stephen then fired at him but did not hit him. Some of the men said to Stephen, as he was lamenting the horse, that it was well that it was the horse instead of himself. Stephen said they might find a better man than himself, but they could not find a better horse. His regiment lost one man killed. Our losses were very light that day. The rebs came down from Winchester in strong force, but it was too late to repair damage.

The boys have many anecdotes to relate of things on that day. Our sharp shooters do not have any bayonets
on their guns. They crossed the creek and found the rebs in strong force (this was after the cavalry came back) and they made haste back. Among them was one that could not keep up, and there was a feb that kept ahead of the rest. The sharpshooter got behind a tree. It was not very large. The reb got on the other side and told him to
surrender, but the sharpshooter would not. Neither desired to expose themselves, as there were too many on each side. The sharpshooter stuck his gun around one side of the tree as if he would fire. The reb dodged back, and the sharpshooter knocked him down and ran; got safe to his company.

The 4^th regiment lay so close to the rebs that neither dared to show their heads, but could talk with one another, and they improved it; talked politics, called each other all the hard names they could think, the 4^th accusing them of the mean things they had done in Maryland, and they of the mean things they had done in Virginia. They called our boys sheep thieves, a title pretty well deserved, for our boys brought in a good many fat muttons that night. Fresh pork and honey was plentiful yesterday. The rebs cheered for little Mac, as they called him and our boys for old Abe. So they went for sometime. The rebs told our boys to be careful and go off still when they went and they did. Our boys told them to come on and follow close. Those that were there said that there were many sharp things said that caused a hearty laugh on both sides; only think of men at the North voting for the rebel candidate.

I do not see any papers now. Our where the third division is they get them every day. Shall have to go and see Zopher and get the news. On the day that our boys were out, heavy cannonading was heard clear along up towards Martinsburgh. What was done up there I know not. There was some yesterday up on the right very distinct.

We are having a great deal of rain these days. It is the intention to stop here sometime if nothing turns up to prevent. Apples are getting scarce, and the corn is a good ways out, and the beans are all played out.

The way I came to see Stephen was he came over our way to see what the chance was to get a little extra feed for his horse. He found a corn field that part of the corn was too hard to roast and came last night and got it full of ears. The little extra will tell for good on his horse. Hope I shall see him oftener that I have done, but these cavalry men are all over the country.

I wrote you that I had been unwell. I was threatened with a bilious fever, and it has come around to jaundice, but do not be alarmed, I am not sick, only those things I have been the most fond of are the most distasteful to me. It is a good bright yellow jaundice, and that is healthy in the army. I have drawn a shirt, and pair of pants; put them on this morning and feel pretty nice I assure you. It is said that we are to have battalion drill this afternoon. If we do, it will be the first drill I have seen wince I came to the regiment. Came very near having to go on picket again tonight. It took the name next to mine in the Company. This is a detail before we were picketing by Company. I have not drawn any stockings yet; took the best blue one and the best gray one, and they go pretty well yet. You need not send me anything yet.

I got some postage stamps all right, and found one in a letter that I got from you Monday night. That thing you spoke of in that letter did trouble me a few days and gave me some apprehension for the future, but that was the end of it; don’t think of it any more, for I shall not and must not make ourselves miserable out of anything in the Past, but make the best of the present and the future must be good after the war is over and all the bells ring as we go marching home.

Some cavalry men passed my post yesterday. One of them says “I am going home; time out; that is the best march I have started on for three years.” For a moment I felt a little you may guess how, but it was for a moment; mustn’t think of such things, but sometimes a little thing will call up home, oh, how strong. This morning looked down on the ground and saw a little maywood in full bloom. That brought home, father, mother, boyhood and childhood all up in a moment. You know there were some grew near the watering trough on the old place. Father set some out there. I was with him one day and pulled it up and showed it to him, thinking it was a white daisy. He laughed and told me what it was, and set it out again, and it grows there yet. I must close. Have written as much trust as you will want to read at one time, as the dose is double.

Charles.