Letter from H. J. Grimes to Jacob Berrier, Esq. - 1862 - Davidson County, NC - Misc.


Submitted by Claude Medlin
CMedlin@aol.com



(Near Richmond in the woods

June 7, 1862)

Jacob Berrier Esq.

Dear Sir -

I should have written to you before now, but times have been such ever
since we have been here that I could not write sooner. We started here in a
few days after I left home, where we have been ever since, and cannot tell
how much longer we will remain. I think the Government is getting some of
the money back it has paid our boys - we are fareing (sic) very badly - do
not get enough to eat for ourselves or for our horses - have not got one
tent, so we have to take all the rain, which was been very plentiful since
we have been here. We have been marching and counter-marching, scouting,
and on picket-duty constantly - we hardly get time to eat or sleep. Last
Saturday and Sunday there was a very severe battle fought on a creek called
Chickahomany, about seven miles north of us and not very far from Richmond.
The battle commenced on Saturday morning, and continued with the utmost
fury, part of the time, until Sunday about noon. We drove them back,
killing a great many, but our loss was tremendous. Some four or five U.
Regiments suffered severely. Our troops fought only as brave and determined
men fight in a just cause. You have seen or will see before this reaches
you a fuller account of the battle than I have time to give. We could hear
every gun that was fired very distinctly, which was one of the most awful
things I have ever heard. They have been fighting every day since Sunday at
the same place, but on a much smaller scale. Today for the first time since
I have been here, I have heard no cannon. Yesterday, report says, our
troops took 1200 prisoners. I heard the firing. I can not say how many
troops we have around Richmond, but there must be thousands. I think the
Regiment that Henry is in is not very far from us, but I have not seen or
heard anything of him. I am not certain but do not think he was in the
fight last Saturday and Sunday. Wish I could see him. There is going to be
one of the most desperate and bloody battles ever on record, before the
Yankees get Richmond. We are stationed on the James River below Richmond.
We have been expecting a battle at this point ever since we have been here,
but it has not yet come. We are in about one mile of the Yankees. I have
been several times in fifty yards of the rascals. I am sent out nearly
every day with about twenty men to scout and watch the Yankee Gun boats.
One day I lay in about 200 yards of the famous iron-clad Monitor, and
looked at her for a good while. She certainly is an ugly-looking customer.
The other night I was out with twenty men watching gun-boats, when a
courier reached me stating that the Yankees were landing by the thousands
above me and that we would be cut off if we did not get out from there in a
few minutes. I tell you horse-flesh suffered until we got out. It all
turned out to be a false alarm, only about twenty-five Yankees landed. The
gunboats throw shells at us every time they see us. Several have whistled
over my head. Last night one of our boys from Davie was wounded while on
picket, though not badly - - he is the only one of our company that had yet
been hurt. I may be mistaken but think we will have a big fight along the
river shortly. The Yankees will have to land their forces and come by land
for they cannot pass our battery on the river 8 miles below Richmond, even
with their iron-clad boats. They have tried that and got decidedly the
worst of it. They are afraid to make another attack on our battery. It is
on a high bluff, and they say the Monitor cannot elevate her guns so as to
do much execution. If they can ever pass that battery, Richmond is gone. I
guess you heard Old Stonewall Jackson's victory over Banks, and the
consternation he is causing in Yankeedom. He is the man for the times. The
Yankees say that he never fights until he is ready and that he is always
ready. They dread him, and well they may. I want you to write to me and
give all the news in Davidson - - whether they have taken the Conscripts
yet. As I have an opportunity of sending this by a gentleman enclosed you
will find nine hundred dollars ($900) in Confederate money, which you will
apply to my use by paying up a note of $800 held by Jacob Sink on me, the
balance you can pay in part of a $200 note held on me by Jacob Sink. If
they should refuse to take Confederate money, which they surely will not
do, charge it off for others and pay them. I want these notes paid as soon
as possible. I could send more money but it takes so much to get a little
something to eat that I must hold onto the ballance of my money. As soon as
you get this write to me and acknowledge the receipt of the money. Brother
Tom and all of the boys are well. Tell L.L. Conrad to write to me. Excuse
my badly written and imperfect composed and spelled letter, for I have to
write on my knee and am in a hurry. Since I have written the above the
cannon have commenced to thunder not very far from here north, also the
muskets can be very distinctly heard. Let me know if you have heard from
Henry lately, and where he is. Give my love and best wishes to all. Write
as soon as get this and direct to Richmond, Virginia in care of Capt. W. B.
Clement, First Cavalry.

Yours Truly,

H. J. Grimes

P.S. I send my rifle to Lexington, which you will get and take home with
you and leave it in the hands of L. L. Conrad, and tell him to take good
care of it and not let it rust or let anybody have it. I may again send for
it before this war is over. I cannot use it now, and it is in my way, and
in danger of being lost, I cannot use it much, I send it home. Charge
Linsey to keep it in good order for me, or when I come home I will get his
scalp. Capt. Hedgecock has been killed and several of his company, I go out
with 20 men on picket this morning.

H. J. G.



===============================
USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free
genealogy information on the Internet, data may be freely used by
non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied
material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for
profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations
desiring to use this material for purposes other than as stated above, must
contact the submitter or the listed USGenWeb archivist.