June 7th 1862 [Saturday]. Camp Lovell, Va., 8 miles from Richmond.
My Dear Father:
I wrote home on the first or second, I think, but have received no answer to that or the letter before.
We are about 7 ½ miles from Richmond and about two miles from the enemies picketts. We are about ½ mile from the Chickahominy River in a north easterly direction from Richmond.
We are having skirmishing continually along our advance lines. Yesterday two of our men were wounded; one of them belonged to a working party that was engaged in corduroying a road on the other side of the River. He was wounded in the hand and thigh, the other was a Pickett who was wounded in the back and shoulder. Our advance picketts are within fifty yards of the Rebels advance. They fire continually at our men but, strange to say, there has been but very few hits. Our troops are not allowed to return their fire.
Deserters and prisoners say that General Johnston was wounded in the groin with a minie ball in the fight on Sunday last. They all report that he hasn’t commanded the army at Richmond but that Gen. Gustavas Smith has commanded.
I don’t know what else to write except that I bought a revolver of the largest size the other day. It carries a ball weighing half an ounce, the same size that your old rifle carries. I think it can kill a man at fifty yards if I hit him in the proper place but I hope I shan’t have the opportunity. I don’t care to have even Rebel blood on my hands.
I just heard that one of our gun boats (the monitor) is within two miles of Richmond and that the Galena has been sunk; but I hardly believe it.
For the third time I will tell you that the next letter I write will be dated Richmond.
Please write soon, very soon. Give my love to all the family
Your affectionate son, W. J. Fisher
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