James M. Miller

James M. Miller

Dear Sister Lizzie,

I rec'd a very few words from you yesterday evening, and was very glad to hear that the folks was al well at home. I am well at present hoping this will find you the same. I have heard from home but very few times since I left Keokuk, and in fact I have not written as often as I did while I was there, for we have been pretty busy for the last two or three week, but now we have got [to] this place, and I think we will get to rest a few days at least. Now I will try to give you a few of the particulars about the [?] of the place.

We started to come to this place on the 30 inst. and found the rebels skirmish line a short time before sundown. Our skirmishers advanced, driving the rebs before them until they were within 6 or 8 hundred yds. of the enemies main works and there they established our picket line by throwing up light works, or rifle pits the next day. If we strengthen our works until our skirmish line was a tolerable good line of breast works, There was not anything of importance done on the 5th, but on the 6th we plant some artillery and during the night of the 6th we advanced our picket line 250 yds. When the rebs found that our line had advanced they charged on it and tried to drive it back but they were repulsed back as fast as they come,

Not anything worth note happened on the 7th and 8, but on the 9th toward evening we was ordered out to the reserve picket lines while we was lying there. Macks [xxx] Battery came out and took a position in front of the Fort and they and the 2nd Illinois Battery (it had been planted before) went to work and fired pretty rapid for about 40 minutes.

But before they commenced firing our front line of 2 inft. was ready to storm their Fort as the Artillery ceased our whole line was ordered forward and went forward with a yell which ceased not until the enemies works was gained they had surrendered. From the time our line started until the surrender was made was, I think I may safely say, no more than 17 minutes. They surrendered about 3,000 Prisoners to us, several guns and enough Provisions to last us a while. We lost about 300 in wounded [xxxxxx] I guess [xxxx] have no offensive [xxx] yet. I can tell exactly [xxxx] or how many prisoners we got. [xxxx] Now I will tell you that our regiment was not in the fight and that accounts for me not being in it. Our regiment was the reserve. I guess I have told all that I know about the fight so I will change the subject.

I understand that gen Grant has got Richmond and I guess it is true. I think [xxx] we'll have it Maybe in a short time and then I don't know where the Rebs wil go to next, next they try a hole and [xxxxxxxx] the hole in after them. I guess you can see that I think they are out whipped and then of course the war will be over and we will all get to come home that lives through it...

Now I must stop writing and get some dinner, though before I stop I will tell you that the boys are all well. Ace and Bill are in camp and Nick [xxxx] is on guard.

I want you all to write often and try and write a little more when you do write, I almost forgot to tell you that. Muffly was slightly wounded the other day but he is all right now. A ball struck his shoulder and bruised it but did not got through his clothes: he is as hearty as any man in the company.

Now I will bring my scribbling to a close by bidding you all good by for this time.

James M. Miller