The following letter was written by Charles E. Pettis, a native of Vermont, who enlisted at Erie as a private in September 1861 to serve in Co. K, 83rd Pennsylvania Infantry. He was discharged for disability in mid-September 1862. His residence was given as Garland, Warren county, Pennsylvania.

Charles’ letter, dated 2 June 1862 during the Peninsula Campaign, makes reference to the recent fighting at Hanover Court House, where the 83rd Pennsylvania, part of Fitz John Porter’s V Corps, clashed with Branch’s North Carolinians. Being outnumbered three to one, the Confederates suffered a decisive defeat at Peake’s Crossing. The letter suggests that the victory was facilitated by the inferior weaponry and lack of enthusiasm among the North Carolinians.

[Note: This letter is from the private collection of James Campbell and was offered for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.]

Transcription

Camp near the Chickahominy
June the 2, 1862

Dear Friend James,

I now take my pen in hand to answer your welcome letter which come to had in due season. I am well at present and I hope that when this letter reaches you it will find you enjoying good health. Well James, I must give you a few details of what have been going on since I last wrote to you. We are about five miles from the heart of rebeldom. Yesterday our men fought pretty near all day. Our men were victorious. ¹

Jim, I wish you were here to see the rebel pimps run when we begin to shell them. I must give you a little account of the fight that I was in at Hanover Court House. It was a hard fight. I thought the killed and wounded on our side was about 75. As near as I can find out, the rebels loss was about twice the number. We took a good many prisoners. The rebel troops that we fought was mostly North Carolina chaps. They said they were glad to be taken prisoners. They were armed with the old musket that our men fought in the revolution. They were very poorly dressed and said they had not enough to eat.

While we was out there, we destroyed the rebels railroad bridge and tore their telegraph and we captured a large amount of tobacco and sugar. We killed a large supply of fresh meat. The weather is very warm here. Corn is about eight inches high. Winter wheat is all headed out. I think that before next Saturday that Richmond will be in our hands. I hope so.

Well James, I don’t know that I can give you any more news this time. You must write very soon. Yours truly, C. E. Pettis

to James Upton

¹ See Battle of Seven Pines.