American Historical Ephemera and Photography Online

Soldier's letter describing action near Fort Stedman during the Petersburg Campaign. Fort Stedman, 1 October 1864.

3 pages, 7 1/2 x 9 3/4 in., creasing, some separations/small losses at crease intersections, toning and occasional spotting.

The writer opens by describing how his corps relieved the X Corps, getting into position quietly "...for the enemy skirmishers are within 260 yds and their main line the same. We awoke in the morning and took a look at Johny's [sic] line. It is a strong line and have 2 mortar Batteries in it besides guns. The sharp shooters cannot be seen as they have holes to fire through and they keep up a continual firing all night. Every night they begin to fire by volleys as if they were going to advance their line at the same time open their mortars. This is a warning to us to run to our guns should they attempt to come over and call on us."

He explains how Generals Butler and Warren have advanced against the enemy, and the II Corps "is stretched as far as it can be how many miles I do not know." After a false alarm a couple of nights prior, when the writer believed the enemy was coming over their works, "the Infantry tore down the old line and we showed them our brass dogs shotted with Cannister warning them to beware how they charged over here. I don't care how many Infantry they hurl against us if they keep their mortar shell away."

The writer continues a few days later on 4 October, explaining that a sickness kept him from finishing the letter on the 1st. He also seemingly casually informs the reader that he was shot in the foot on the night of the 1st: "I got a clip on the left foot with a piece of shell from one of Johnny's mortars but did not break the skin." That same evening, 13 recruits came into camp with the captain "and he was as drunk as he could be and such work you never saw. They would run into every hole and cower like hens and they are not much larger. He was horse back with sabre drawn rushing them on...Our Captain is a nephew of Gov Smith's and a regular army. He acted as though he was crasy [sic] he left me in command and said he was going on the skirmish line to see 'the effect of the shots.'"

The letter is signed R. L. Johnson. It has been suggested that the writer is Robert I. Johnston of the 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery, though the middle initial "L" clearly written in the letter makes this identification seem unlikely.