May 7, 1863 [Thursday].
Camp, near Falmouth, Va.
My Dear Father:
I think I answered your last letter but I am not sure.
We left our camp on the morning of the 27th and marched about six miles and went into camp, the 10th being on Provost Duty, marched in the rear of the Division and consequently did not get into camp until about two hours after the Division. We had to stay behind, to keep up the stragglers and also the pack mules (we used pack mules instead of wagons; had one mule to eight officers and mules to carry ammunition).
On the morning of the 28th, we moved again and marched about the same distance that we did the day before and again went into camp. After we had been in it a short time, General Sykes issued an order saying that our next march would be a “long and rapid one.”
On the 29th we again moved; the Division ahead and we bringing up the rear as before. We marched to the Rappahannock and had to wait ‘til the II and XII Corps passed. This is where we laid the Division last. We had to stay on the banks of the River until nearly dark when we were ordered to cross. After we crossed we marched all night (and the rain was pouring down) and also, until next morning when we caught up with the Division, went into camp within ¾ of a mile of the enemy and went to bed on one blanket for the first time in thirty-six hours. After we had been in camp about two hours, the other Company of the 10th with our flag and band now in our whole Regiment presently consisting of nine Companies and the band.
The next morning the 1st of May we were relieved of Provost Duty and were ordered to report for duty to 2nd Brigade. We hadn’t been in the Brigade on hour before we were ordered to move. We hadn’t marched a mile before we were attacked by the enemy’s picketts but we drove them back about two miles. Killed about fifty and with nearly the same number prisoners. The tenth took twenty seven prisoners and killed eight. But after we drove them back, they brought up reinforcements and drove us back and we had to retreat for the want of reinforcements. We were turned back to where we started from in the morning but the enemy did not follow us near our camp.
I had command of a Company of sixteen men out of which I lost four, just ¼. After dark we fell back about ½ mile and the 10th went on Pickett duty. We were on Pickett until the morning of the 3rd when we again fell back about one mile and entrenched ourselves on a crest of hills. We lay behind our works until yesterday morning when we retreated across the river and afterwards were back to this our old winter camp. I think the whole move was caused by the cowardly Dutchman (XI Corps) belonging to Sykes’ old Corps who allowed themselves to be surprised and a lot of them were taken prisoners. I hope we will hang them.
I am in Camp now. I have no idea how long we will stay or anything about it.
I wish you would write oftener.
Give my love to all. Your son, Wm. J. Fisher.
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