Before Petersburg, Va., August 28, 1864: 4 pgs. (8x10) in pencil, with a
cover C.D.S. Washington, D.C,; stamp missing, written by Lieut. Alick M.
Hayward, 24th Mass. Vols. to Lizzie & Annie: "We have left our old place
at Deep Bottom & have exchanged places with the 18th Corps. We have got
our camp pitched behind a high hill and we have regular bomb proofs so
that shells can't hurt us. They say that it is almost sure death to
show your head. I don't think it can beat Morris Island. I am real smart
to get well and be on duty so quick after getting wounded. Butche Grant
or one of the fellows that he employs to do his blood thirsty work has
been giving the Johnnies fits over on the Weldon Railroad. We have lost
as many as they have, but they have more of them in killed then we have.
There was 700 Rebs killed in front of one division of the 5th Corps. Just
think of the lives that have been thrown away since last May and some of
the best men in the country. There is a large parrot gun here that is
called the "Petersburg Express" that keeps up a constant fire at regular
intervals, both day & night, and I presume that it is rather warm over
that way. My arm will not admit it but I am sure that I don't want to
be spoiled by another one of those balls from Rebeldom, Old Ben Butler
is the meanest old cuss that I ever saw. There was a Lieut. that has
been in the army over 3 years and has been wounded. He sent in his 
resignation and Butler gave him a dishonorable discharge. There was an 
order issued that all citizens found in the department would be put to
work in his celebrated canal that he is having dug at Dutch Gap." Much
more on the policies of notorious Beast Butler! Well written officer's
letter in a neat bold hand.

[??] Petersburg Va
August 28th 1864.

My dear Lizzie & Annie,
I received your of the 23d
this afternoon while on the road to the place
we have left our old place at Deep
Bottom.  Have exchanged places with the 
18th Army Corps.  This is one of the 
places where we have got our Camp
pitched, it is behind a high Hill and 
we have regular bomb proofs so that 
the Shells cant hurt us
Our Regt goes on picket to morrow
morning at ? oclock and they say that 
it is almost shure death to show
your head  I don't think that it can
beat "Morris Island" a great deal altho I 
shant try it unless I am obliged to,

PS
Tell Ed that I will write him 
soon if I can possibly
get an opportunity
I have got lots of 
writing to do the 
last of this month 
5 Pay Rolls to be 
made out and  
no one to help me
also Ordnance [Releases?]
and monthly returns of the
Company. Good night
Alick

Dont you think that I am real
smart to get will and to on duty
so quickly after getting wounded?
Lieut WIlsons arm is very sore and
he has put in an application for @
leave of absence for 20 days. and will
probably be on his way home in a few
days. I think that if we had just
gone on board the "Hospital Boat" and
and went as far as Fortress Monroe
that we might both of us have got
home. but, I couldnt muster up cheek
enough for that altho my arm was
very painfull for the first two days.
Butcher Grant or one of the fellows
that he employs to do his blood thirst
work has been giving the Johnnies perticular
fits over on the Waldin Rail-Road. We 
have lost about as many as they
have but they have more of them killed
and wounded then we have. There was
700 Rebs killed in front of one of the
Divisions of the 5th Corps at least that
is the story that we have, but I do
think that they got [ser?uly] [hu?dled]

but just think of the lives that have
been throughn away since last May
and some of the best men in the Country
fighting men I mean of course and I
calculate that they are the best men 
in the Country at the present time.
There is a large Parrot Gun here that
is called the Petersburg Express that keeps
up a constant fire at regular intervals
both day and night and I presume that
it is rather warm over that way when
the packages arise. I havnt seen any
of the New Hampshire boys for @ long
time [but have.] There the boy Ed is
a going to leave you soon.  I would like
to fill his place for a few hours but
my arm will not admit of it [?]
I am sure that I dont want to be
spoled by another one of those balls
from Rebeldom and if mad [m?]
causion me to be carefull of myself
again.  Old Ben Butler is the meanest
old cuss that I ever saw. There was
a Lieut that has been in the Army
over 3 years and has been wounded

and in the Ambulance Corps for the
last year and a half sent in his resignation
a few days a go and [and] "Butler" gave 
him @ dishonorable discharge and before
he could get out of the Department
there was an order issued that all citizens
found in the department should be
put to work in his celebrated canal
that he is having dug at Dutch Gap. There was
5 other Lieuts put there for resigning in
our New York Regt.  He is trying to
hold every officer that has been [noushed?]
since they came out, but he is only hurting
the service for the officiers in this Regt
that came out with the regt as officer
will not stand sich fooling and
if he holds them after there original term
of enlistments is out he will not be likely
to get a great deal of duty out of them
and I cant blame them. The Mosquitoes
are hound thick and I cant stand it any
longer I thank you fondly for the
stamps and papers. I must close and
go to bed. Write soon. With much love I
am yours &c Alick

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