Camp Head Of York River,
May 8, 1862.
My dear sister:
I wrote you a line yesterday as I was about embarking at
Yorktown to go up the river to land at some suitable place, and from there
pursue the enemy. Upon our arrival here, the enemy attempted to dislodge us,
but we had landed too many troops for them. The skirmish was quite lively for
two hours, but as they were concealed, we could not estimate their numbers.
They are now in full retreat, and we are hotly pursuing them. Our loss is
thirty-nine killed and eighty-five wounded. Our losses at Williamsburg have
been highly exaggerated — six hundred and fifty will cover all, killed,
wounded, and missing. For this we have much to show: a large number of cannon
of the largest and most approved pattern, immense quantities of ammunition, and
some two thousand prisoners. Most of their camp equipage was captured, and the
rest burned to prevent it from falling into our hands. Our troops are
inspirited and ready for anything. We shall follow them closely, but there will
be some delay in bringing up supplies. Our ambulances are now taking the
wounded to Ship Point, to embark them for Old Point.
Yours forever,
J. S.
SOURCE: George William Curtis, Correspondence of
John Sedgwick, Major-General, Volume 2, p. 45-6
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