Camp Near Richmond, June 4, 1862.
My dear sister:
This is the first leisure moment I have had since the
actions of May 20 and June 1, and I have scarcely time now to write a word to
assure you of my safety. I am sure you will be glad to hear that my troops
behaved admirably, and before the fight was over the General congratulated me
upon the manner in which the division was brought into action and the splendid
behaviour of the men.
The Prince de Joinville rode up to me and said: “I
congratulate you, General, on the admirable behaviour of your troops. You have
won a great victory.” I will, at some future time, give a description of the
fight, which lasted two days. We are now bivouacked in advance of the
battle-field. The loss in my division was light, although in some of the others
it was heavy. My personal friends are all safe, although many of them were in
the hottest of the fight. We have still more fighting to do before entering Richmond,
although we are within a few miles of it. A few reinforcements are coming in,
but not enough to fill the casualties that have taken place. Our losses in
battle have been considerable, and still greater by sickness. The disasters we
have lately received are owing to the division of our troops ordered from
Washington, and against the remonstrances of General McClellan. This will
always be the case when persons entirely ignorant of military matters take the
direction. I hope my next letter may be from Richmond, but man proposes and God
disposes. The floods we have experienced in the last month have been very
heavy; all the streams are so swollen and the bridges carried away that it is
impossible to move artillery. By great exertion I got all of mine up, but now
we could not move. With much love to all, you know I am ever
Your affectionate
brother,
J. s.
SOURCE: George William Curtis, Correspondence of
John Sedgwick, Major-General, Volume 2, p. 49-50
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