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Latest revision as of 13:48, 28 July 2017
Letter from Charles L. Powell (Richmond) to Hattie Powell (Brunswick County)29 June 1862
Powell Papers – 65 P875, Box III, Folder 1
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Richmond June 29/62
My darling Hattie
You perhaps know that since Thursday
last a series of battles have been fought around
Richmond but have not yet learned the results.
On Thursday Morning I woke to the sound of
a brisk cannonnading which seemed to be par
tially if not wholly suspended during the fore
noon. Abt 5 in the afternoon it was renewed
fiercely & about 1/2 past 7 there was a rapidity of
discharges, which military men said was per
haps unprecedented. It did not cease until 1/2
past 9. At that time our men had carried two
batteries, occupied the bridge & strong positions
which had been held by the enemy & driven
them from the ground. On Friday early the bat
tle was resumed with great violence. Jackson's
Army which by a rapid March partly by rail
road & partly on foot had come down to take
part in the fight, bearing down upon them
supported by Hills & Longstreets divisions.
Battery after Battery was taken from our
[2]
strong fortifications & another our men drove
them in quick succession, until about four or
5 o'clock in the afternoon, we attacked a
battery of great strength (35 heavy guns). Three times
our men were repulsed & returned to the charge
carrying the battery after one of the most furious
fights in the history of modern warfare.
Gen Lee reported that our loss was heavy in officers
& men. On the next day Saturday there was no
fighting. Prisoners were that day brought in
here in large numbers – now abt 3700 in all.
about 90 officers among whom are Maj Genl
Reynolds & Brig Gen Rankin. The report of to day
is that McClellan having brought all his forces to this
side of the Chickahominy was now evacuating his
fortifications destroying his stores & falling back
down the peninsula hotly pursued by our forces. It is rep
orted that they are seeking the shelter of their gun boats
& hoped that a large portion of the Army may be destroyed or
compelled to Capitulate – Gen Lee is in command & has
won great reputation by his plan of battle which is
thought by military men a brilliant conception. Reports
are now coming in of the heavy price by which we have
won our victory. Wood McDonald & Frank Sherrard
fell in storming the heavy battery of which I have spoken.
Eugene Webster had the whole top of his head taken
off by a cannon ball. Col Allen's body was brought to
town this morning. Frank Jones was wounded in the knee,
the leg was amputated & it was feared that his system
would be prostrated by the operation. It is hoped that this
fearful cost of life & suffering & desolation of homes
may in the mercy of God bring some more substantial
result that in enabling us to count so many killed, wound
ed & captured of the enemy – that it may produce
effect in establishing our Independence & restoring our
unhappy country to the peace & prosperity which it once en
joyed – I do not think that any of our near relatives
were engaged – Frank & Hugh Powell were safe when
heard from Yr very afft father
C. L Powell
