Brigadier-General John Sedgwick to his Sister, July 6, 1862

Camp On James River, July 6, 1862.

My dear sister:

I wrote you a note on the 3rd informing you of the arrival of the army on this river. We are now resting after the fatigues of the last few days. The deprivations the troops have gone through have been unparalleled. We left our lines some twenty-five miles from this place at daylight on the 29th, covering the movement of troops and stores. At nine o'clock, knowing we were to be attacked, the line of battle was formed, and soon after the enemy made their appearance. After two hours' brisk cannonading they were repulsed, and we continued our march. After reaching Savage's Station, a halt was made to enable our stores to get off. The enemy again attacked in large numbers and impetuously. Then we succeeded in not only repulsing them, but driving them from the field. By this time it was ten o'clock at night when we moved forward. Marched all night crossing White Oak Swamp, where we caught up with the main body. After an hour of rest, during which time the main body were moving, we again started. At about three o'clock the enemy appeared on our flank in large force and attacked with great spirit. One of our divisions broke, the fugitives passing through our ranks. This was a long and desperate action. Not a regiment broke but they rallied again at once. I was considerably exposed, and balls and shells fell about pretty thick and fast. A ball struck me on the arm, doing no injury. My old favourite horse, which I have had ten years, received a ball in the leg, soon after a piece of shell struck him, and within a minute a ball grazed my leg, going through and through poor old Tom; he lived a few minutes, groaning most piteously, following me about till he fell. I mounted another horse, and he was slightly hit. The action closed after dark, and we resumed our march, marching all night; by daylight reached the river. Here we found the main force drawn up for a fight, and it was not long before it came. The ball opened about nine o'clock, and it was a succession of vigorous attacks all day, all of which were repulsed. The whole army moved that night to this position. In this last action my division were not engaged. We are now quiet, receiving some few reinforcements, but we want thousands to bring our number to anything like theirs. In all this time I have narrated, our men were without rations and without blankets, and in one of the severest of storms.

Rumours speak of changes in the cabinet and in the army.

With much love to all, I am, as ever,

Your affectionate brother,

J. S.

SOURCES: George William Curtis, Correspondence of John Sedgwick, Major-General, Volume 2, p. 69-71