The following letter was written by James Dion, a native of Quebec who emigrated to the United States and enlisted as a private in Co. D, 2nd Vermont Infantry on 13 August 1862 and served until 21 April 1865.

During the Battle of Chancellorsville, the 2nd Vermont was part of the Vermont Brigade led by Col. Lewis A. Grant in Albion Howe’s 2nd Division of John Sedgwick’s Sixth Corps. It was the 6th Corps that drove Jubal Early’s troops from Marye’s Heights on 3 May 1863—the day before this letter was penned. Only two Mississippi regiments, the 18th and 21st, under Brig. Gen. William Barksdale (1,200 men and eight guns) defended the rebel entrenchments.

After attacks on the flanks were repulsed, Sedgwick boldly decided to attack the center of the line—hard and fast—believing the lightly held, though strongly fortified position could be overrun if his men fixed bayonets and did not stop to reload as they charged up the slopes. He arranged for the assault to be made in three lines, the first composed of the 7th Maine, and two battalions of the 21st New Jersey and the 33rd New York. The 2nd Vermont was in the second line along with the 6th Vermont and the 26th New Jersey. The third line included the 3rd Vermont, 6th Vermont, and the rest of the 21st New Jersey.

In fifteen to thirty bloody minutes in the late morning of May 3, Sedgwick’s troops achieved their objective but lost 1,100 men in the process. This letter was written from the camp of the 2nd Vermont the morning after the battle before the regiment was marched out on the Orange Plank Road into the Wilderness where lead elements of Sedgwick’s Corps had met resistance at Salem Church the evening before.

We learn that in taking the rebel works, many of Early’s men left behind their knapsacks that were plundered by the 6th Corps. James’ letter informs us that he recovered the rebel stationery from a “napesaque” left in the earthworks.

Though written in French, fortunately James’ letter is short enough—and simple enough—that I can make out most of it, more or less.

This letter was provided to me for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by Sherrie Westmoreland, who is his 3x great granddaughter. She informs me that James was married to Mary Ann Monney, a Swiss immigrant. Her father, Pierre (Peter) Monney was shot and killed at the Battle of Spotsylvania where James was also shot—twice—and taken prisoner. He then survived imprisonment at Andersonville.

Transcription

Fredericksburg, Virginia
May 4, 1863

Dear woman, I am writing you a few lines to let you know that I am in good health and I hope my letter finds you well as it leaves me. Dear woman, we were in battle four days. Yesterday our regiment charged bayonets on a rebel fort and we took it. They were taken quite quickly without time to take their knapsacks and I found this paper that I took out of a knapsack.

Much respect to all the family. Kiss Emma for me. Farewell. I kiss you with all my heart. I don’t have time to write at length. I don’t have the time. Farewell.

I miss you. Your husband for life, — James Dion