1862 May 4 Yorktown, Va.

Yorktown May 4

[letter faded almost to illegibility along the fold lines of the first page]

Dear Mother
I suppose you wonder
at my writing before but I
have had no time only evenings
and have been to tired to write.
The rebels [remainder of line faded away]
this morning early [remainder of line faded]
for picket but instead of stopping
at the lines [remainder of line faded]
forts, they left in a hurry their [remainder of line faded]
were [remainder of line faded]
and their bread very warm [remainder of line faded]
looked as tough they [remainder of line faded]
left in haste this morning and
Co and Co A were the first inside
the forts and soon after we looked
down the line, and there was a
line of men going doubly quick
for all the forts, and the flag of
the Mass 22d was the first to

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wave over the forts at Yorktown.
They left all their tents and [?]
10 cannon ammunition &c
I got a few small things that I
could send in a letter, but knocking
round I lost them which I am
sorry for as I have nothing to send
home as a trophy  If the express office
had been  anywheres nigh here I should
have made up a large box and sent
home.  Tell Ryan that Ginty was wounded
today by one of the torpedoes they had
placed in the fields. I do not know
how bad. Our officers found out on
infernal machine the rebels had
placed in the fort and stopped its
working, If the rebels were not strong
enough to hold their position here
they cant anywheres as they were
strongly fortified, our cavalry and
artillery are in hot pursuit of the
Rebs and our gunboats have gone up
the river over to Gloucester the other

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side of the river had the stars &
stripes floating over them by 7 oclock
this morning about an hour after we
had ours flying which surprised
the folks in the various camps as
nothing was known of the evacuation
till they heard us cheering on the
ramparts, and saw our hats flying
and the flag waving.  Tell Emery
Hunting[?], Martha Moulton, & May Towne
that I will answer theirs as quick
as possible, Give my love respects to all
enquiring friends and my love take
to yourself, I hope this will find
you well again.
I remain your aff son
Wm Wallace

P.S. When you write to Asa tell
him I am well and hearty and he
must excuse me for not answering
his letter as I have not had
time

W.W.

with envelope addressed to
Mrs. E. Smith
Newton Lower Falls
Mass

William Wallace Smith,  22nd Massachusetts, Co. B