33. DEEP BOTTON, VA., AUG. 3RD, 1864: 4 pgs. in ink, with cover, C.D.S., Old Point Comfort, Va., w/3c rose stamp, from Lt. Aleck M. Hayward, CO. H, 24TH MASS. REGT., to Lizzie: "there hasn't been any big bouts since I last wrote you here but at PETERSBURG they have had a stunner, and would have done something if it hadn't been for the NIGGER TROOPS. It was a little too warm for them and they took the back track leaving a gap open and the Johnnies rushed in and the troops that was on the right and left had to fall back to keep from being flanked. We sprung a "mine" about 4 o'clock sending one South Carolina Regt. soon nearer their celestial abode. Then we rushed the troops through the opening made.....CONTINUED.. 33. CONT. onto the next line of works and could not take them and had to fall back. They concentrated so hot on these NIGS that we had to fall back without accomplishing anything. One of our old Capts. who was on GENL. BARTLETT'S staff was taken prisoner and it is stated that the whole staff is taken. At any rate they can't hurt GENL. B. for there isn't enough of him left for them to wood. He has got six or eight wooden legs now and as many arms. The very presence of that man is worth ten thousand men to us. The man must be a coward that wouldn't follow him to the death. He asked permission to ride his horse on a charge at the BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS and they wouldn't let him so he went in on crutches and the Rebs had to fall back. You have undoubtably heard the accounts of him at PORT HUDSON." Excellent content concerning the BATTLE OF THE CRATER AT PETERSBURG as well as on GEN. WM. F. BARTLETT, ............................................ 10 L51285 D345 LTR - Battle of Crater Aug 3, 64 D345 3 U.S. POSTAGE 3 U THERE CENTS Miss Lizzie H. Wilkins, Amherst N.H. OLD POINT COMFORT AUG 5 VA Aug 3, 64 1864 can't hurt Genl B for there isnt enough of him left for then to wound He has got six or eight wooden leggs now and as many Arms [?] The very presence of that man is worth ten thousand men to us. The man must be a coward that wouldnt follow him to the death He asked permission to ride his Horse on a charge at the battle of the wilderness and they wouldnt let him so he went in on "crutches" and the Rebs had to fall back. You have undoubtedly heard the accounts of him at Fort Hudson. But my letter is nothing but Bartlett so I will drop him. That friend of Sturgis Lieut Barnard I think as I know that they are old acquaintancis Mr B is my senior but I am 1st Lieut as well as his. He is now on Genl Foster's staff as junior A. D. C. Not Genl J.G. Foster but the one in command of our Brigade and his is a "P. B." He makes us all think of Genl [*Stevenson. I think it advisable for me to close and retire, so good night and may your dreams be pleasant. My candle is a going out. Write soon. Alick*] Deep Bottom Va. Aug 3rd 1864. My dear Lizzie. It is raining quite hard to night and all the rest of the Regt is on Picket but my Company. We have one Cor that stops in Camp every time and it has come to my turn for which I am very thankful for as long as it is raining. I know it isn't my turn to write but I havnt any thing else to busy myself about and I must do something so I propose anoying you for a little while and hope you will do the same to me some time when you feel like it. My friend Nicholis hasnt got back from Fortress Monroe yet. He started yesterday morning and I expect him back to morrow evening and then I shall try and go myself as I havnt settled my accounts as an Enlisted man yet. If then would only a Pay master make his appearance I should be purfectly happy. It is awfull warm to night and the sweat fairly runig off of me and you know that I am very hard to sweat indeed. There hasnt any big bouts happened since I last wrote you here but at Petersburg they have had a stunning and would have done something if it hadnt have been for the Nigger troops but it was a little to warm for them and they took the back track leaving a gap open and the Johnies rushed in and the troops that was on the right and left of it had to fall back to keep from being flanked you see. I dont know as you see but I do. The way of it was we sprung a "muu" about 4 oclock send one South Carolina Regt seen nearer the selestial abode then they soon was bone and in all probability that they ever will try a gain and then we rushed the troops through the opening made onto the next line of works beyond and as I understand could not take them and had to fall back to the first line and they concentrated so hot over on these nigs that we had to fall back with out accomplishing anything. One of our old Captains now was in Genl Bartletts Staff was taken prisoner and it is stated that the whole staff was taken but I cant believe it. at any rate they Deep Bottom, VA Aug 3d, 1867 My Dear Lizzie It is raining sure hard to night and all the rest of the Regt is on Picket but my company. we have one _____ that stops in camp [olany?] time and it has come to my ____ for which I am very thankfull for as long as it is raining, I know it isn't my turn to write but I havent any thing else to busy myself about and I must do something so I purpose anoying you for a little while and hope you will do the same to me some time when you feel like it. My friend Nichols hasn't got back from Fortress Monroe yet. He started yesterday morning and I expect him back tomorrow And Then I shall try and go myself as I haven't settled my accounts as an enlisted man yet. If then would only pay master make his appearance, I should be perfectiely happy it is awfull warm at nights and the sweat fairly ____ off of me and you knew That I am very hard to sweat indeed There hasn't any big bouts happened since I last wrote to you here but at Petersburg they have had a stunning and would have done something if it hadn't been for the Nigger troops but it was a little to warm for them And they took the back track leaving a Gap open and the Johnnies Rushed in and the troops that was on the right and left of it had to fall back to keep from being flanked you see. I don't know [I _] [dont know] - you see but I do. The way out of it was we sprung a 'mine' about 4 oclock send one South Carolina regt soon nearer a selestial abode. Then they __ was before __ in all probability that they will every will by again and then we rushed the troops through the opening made onto the next line of works beyond and as I understand could not take them and had to fall back to the front line and they concentrated so [con] hot __ on these nigs that we had to fall back without accomplishing anything. One of our captains who was on Gen Bartletts staff was taken prisoner and it is stated that the whole staff was taken but I cant believe it. At any rate they can't hurt Genl B for for there isnt enough of him left for them to wound. He has got [6] six or [8] eight wooden leggs now and as many army 3 The very presence of that man is worth ten thousand men to us. The man must be a coward that wouldnt follow him to the death. He asked permission to ride his horse at the battle of the wilderness and they wouldnt let him so he went in on "catchers" and the rebs had to fall back. You have undoubtedly heard the accounts of Him at Port Hudson. But my letter is nothing but Bartlett so will stop now - That friend of Steve is Lieut Bayard. I think as I knew that they are old acquaintances MA B is my senior but I am 1st Lieut as well as hes. __ __ is Genl Foster's staff as Serten A DC not Genl J G Foster but the one in command of our brigade and he is @ P.P. He makes us all think of Genl Stevenson. I think it advisable for me to close and retire so good night and may your dreams be pleasure. My candle is going out Write soon, Aleck - Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.