July 6th, 1862 [Sunday]. Camp near James River.
My Dear Father:
Since I last wrote I have seen some of the most fatiguing and exciting time that I have ever experienced in my life –––––––.
The 26th of June we moved camp, expecting to cross over the River and fight our way to Richmond. We marched to within a few hundred yards of the River and bivouacked for the night in a field. All the evening and a greater part of the night we could hear cannonading in our front and on our extreme right. Well, I got my overcoat and went to sleep and slept until about 3 o’clock. Then we were formed up and marched back on the same road. We were all taken completely by surprise and didn’t know what to make of the movement until we were checked back a couple of miles and formed in line of battle; then we were informed that Jackson, with his whole army amounting to nearly eighty thousand of the very best Confederate troops, was trying to outflank us on the right and that General McClellan had determined to turn his right wing and make the James River the base of operations instead of the Panmunky.
We retreated, I suppose, about five miles where then (the men) retired of our knapsacks. At about ten o’clock we were formed in line of battle and about 11 the ball opened with artillery. The way the Rebel shells flew around, well to say the least of it, it was very unhealthy. The shells they fired fell and exploded right in the 2nd Infantry and killed one man dead and wounded two more. Out of our little battalion of about two hundred men, we lost between sixty and seventy killed and wounded. Out of ten officers, we lost one killed and two of them are missing, supposed to be either killed or badly wounded.
You will see in the Tribune that the Regulars didn’t fight well; but I think when you see the official report, you will change your opinions that are if you have formed them.
I shall not say anything more about it, but we were for six hours (old Mexicano companions say) under one of the most galling fires, I think, that could be ground into us.
We retreated across the river to General McClellan’s old headquarters. We lay there that night and next day until nearly night, when we were put on the march again. We marched all night through the “White Oak Swamp.” Next day we marched on until about 10 o’clock when we were drawn up in line of battle, but as good luck would have it, we were not attacked.
We bivouacked for the night in the swamps. Next day, which was the 20th of June, we marched to a place called Turkey Hill and before night had a small artillery fight where we took one battery, one that had just come from Richmond for the indications and they had plenty of fresh bread and meat in the caissons.
The next day we had a hard fight. The Rebbles directed their whole fire in our center, but were driven back with great slaughter every time. I know we could have held our ground but I think McClellan has some deep move on hand that will take us all by surprise.
The mail is going to leave in a little while so I must close.
Please write soon Your affectionate son, W. J. Fisher
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