_Field Hospital near Spottsylvania Court
House, Va.,
May 13, 1864._
When I wrote to you on the 7th instant I thought our fighting was over,
for we had driven the Yankees off the field at the Wilderness and they
had refused to attack us again; but we had another big fight with them
the next day (8th instant) near this place. Then on the 10th another
big fight here, and then one again yesterday that was the most terrific
battle I have ever witnessed. The musketry and cannon continued from
daybreak until night. Nothing that I have ever before heard compared
with it. We were behind breastworks, but the Yankees charged into
them in many places, fighting with the greatest determination, and it
strained us to the utmost to hold our own. Such musketry I never heard
before, and it continued all night, engaged with our brigade. It was
perfectly fearful. I never experienced such anxiety in my life. It was
an awful day, and it seemed to me as if all the “Furies of Darkness”
had come together in combat. Everybody who was not firing was pale with
anxiety, but our noble soldiers stood their ground, fighting with the
utmost desperation.
The Yanks certainly tried their best yesterday, and they made us try
our best too. It was the most desperate struggle of the war. I do not
know that it is ended, but we have quiet to-day. I have not heard, but
I hope the Yankees are gone and that I shall never again witness such a
terrible day as yesterday was.
My brother passed through it all untouched. His company lost four
killed, besides many wounded. John Landrum was killed and Scott Allen
badly wounded. Mrs. Miriam Hunter’s husband is mortally wounded.
General Abner Perrin was killed, Colonel Brockman lost his arm, Captain
McFall his eye, and General McGowan was severely wounded in the arm.
This makes the fifth time he has been wounded. You will see all about
it in the papers. I saw your brother Edwin yesterday. He was well, but,
like everyone else, very anxious.