1861 June 11 York Town [Virginia]

My dear wife:-

This is the first opportunity I have had to write to you since I have been here, and for fear that you may hear of our fight on the 10th I write at once to let you know that I am all safe and sound, and I can almost say that there is nobody hurt on our side. Now I will give you some account of myself and our doings since I got here. I wrote to you on the 3rd day we left Camp Chimborazo. Capt. Stanards Co. and the Georgia regiment came down together. We left Richmond that night about 10 o'clock. I had the pleasure of sleeping out in a hard rain that night, without any cover at all. However I am getting used to that life now. I never was in better health in my life. We got here about 11 o'clock the next day. I found John here much to my delight, and quite well. After we got our tents up, he and myself took a walk to see this old and renound village, it is not a large place, but a very old looking town. The old breast-works behind which Cornwallis fought are still standing, they have been renewed and with many new ones just put up, promse to the world another 19th of October. The field in which the British surrendered is about one mile back, I passed it on my way to Newport News. We had not been here but one hour before we got orders for our Company to march towards Newport. We stopped at a Church about 15 miles from here, and under Maj. Randolph's directions, commenced throwing up breastworks. The next day we sent out some of our men with one of the guns to look after the Yankees. They fell in with a party of them about 95 strong, we had about 18 or 20, we drove them back killed 5 or 6 and took two prisoners. Nothing of importance happened then until Sunday evening, when we heard that they were advancing onus, some 4000 strong (which was corredt) we had only 1600 men, with cannons, they had 4 pieces. Of those 1600, there were about 120 Howitzers 2nd & 3rd Company, the rest were a regiment of true and brave North Carolinians. We commenced the battle at ten o'clock, firing three guns first, and then came one of the hardest fought battles that has ever occured in this Country, it lasted near three hours. We fought about 250 yards apart both parties throwing cannister and grape shot from their cannon. I cannot describe to you how the balls flew, think of a heavy hailstorm and you will have some idea. They poured the hottest of the fire from their guns at the Howitzers for about an hour, we stood that with a drop fire from the infantry at the same time. Not one man flinched all that time. Our gunners would take deliberate aim and discharge their guns, and would rake file after file of the enemy. A bomb shell of ours would burst in their ranks and kill 15 or 20 at a time. They were composed of "Billy Willson" Zouaves, one or two regiments of U.S. Regulars, commanded by Gen. Butler in person. We killed one of the Capt. of the New York 7th Regiment. I have a grape shot to show you. We must have killed about 200 of them and wounded as many more. On our part, we had 3 slightly wounded, Lieut Hudnal of 2nd Com. in the foot, 2 privates one in knee and the other in the hand, and one North Carolinian killed. My dear wife I can assure you I have not exaggerated this account, or drawn a bright picture. I cannont account for our escape, but in one way, that is Providence was on our side. We were commanded by Maj. Randolph a braver man never lived, the Carolinians by Col. Hill, all by Gen. McGruder, John Fitzhugh fought like a Turk at his gun. I stood at my piece w[h]ere the ball flew thick and fast. I suppose 50 balls struck within 10 to 20 inches from me. I t hought a thousand time of you dear Bettie, and the good advice you have so often given me. We left that place that night, as we could nothold it against the force they would bring today to drive us out. You must give my best love to all, thel Catlett I didnot wish to have hm with me then. I left my watch with Father. I wish you to send to him for it. Some one that is going to Richmond will bring it up to you. Dirct your letters to me care Capt. R. C. Stannard 3rd Co. Howitzers, York Town Va. Let me know how you are getting, is yourhealt as good etc. I must now bring this to a close as I want to write to Capt. Carr.

Good bye dearest Bettie, be happy and cheerful for my sake is the wish of your devoted husband,

F[rank] F[itzhugh] Thornton

from a later copy of the letter in MSS 4448