1862 May 9 Charles City County, Va.

Friday  May 9th  1862

My darling wife
I write this from the Long
Bridge in Charles City County about 20
miles from Richmond and 12 from Charles
City C H  I have only once had an opportunity
of writing to you and yet I am afraid
you will never get that letter, even if
you get this--I write this intending to give
it to the first man I meet who may be
able to put it in the office.
We left Yorktown on Saturday night and
after a very disagreeable and tedious
journey arrived in Wmsburg Sunday morning
The enemy followed us very close in
small numbers and we had a small
fight near Wmsburg Sunday evening
in which we got the better.  Monday
morning we got ready at 3 oclock
and waited on the road side in a
heavy rain until 12 for the trains to
pass which preceeded us in the march
we then started and of all the muddy
wet and disagreeable journeys I ever
saw, ours of Monday excelled.  When
we were out of Wmsburg about four
or five miles news was brought that

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enemy were attacking our rear, two
brigades were sent back and the
fight of Monday took place in which
we gained a decided advantage with
considerable loss on our side in
killed and wounded--the fight took
place in the field in which fort Magru-
-der is situated--with regard to those
of our acquaintance who are killed
or not I cannot speak with any
certainty at all reports and rumors are
so conflicting and contradictory that I
am at a loss what to believe or
what not--the 19th Reg was in the fight
of Monday and captured a federal
battery.  John Davies was not hurt as
I heard from some men who knew
him and saw him afterwards--He
was very much fatigued and worn
out by want of food--Wednesday
we met heavy commissary trains on
their way to meet the army  On
Wednesday we took the wrong road
and came up on a portion of our
army drawn up on line of battle near
Barmsville--we were ordered to take
another road and two hours after the
enemy attacked our army at
Barmsville where we gained another

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victory.  I would like to give you more
news with regard to our army but I
am afraid of giving currency to false
reports and it is extremely hard to tell
the true from the false--We as a
company have been in no fight atall
owing to our guns being so heavy
and difficult to carry--
I have no doubt but that you at
home have heard a thousand & one
rumors with regard to events down
here and I have no doubt also that
the thousand are false and the one
true--We are still on our way towards
Richmond, where we are going, no
man knows, perhaps to Fredericksburg.
What have you done with regard
to my transfer?  I havent heard
from you for more than a week
and of course I am anxious to hear
from you--I hope and trust
that you are well and in good
spirits--I saw Miss Helen Coleman
as I passed through Wmsburg--the
whole family were going to
Clarksville--Mr Sanders' family
left Sunday evening by land for

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Richmond, but got among the trains
& troops and could only get 12 ms
in two days and one of those days
was the wet Monday.  I saw them
on the road--
I hope my precious darling that
I may be permitted to see you
before long--I cant tell you how
much I want to be with you
Give my love to every body
and believe me as ever
Your devoted & affectionate

Husband

unsigned letter of Howe Peyton Cochran of the 1st Virginia Artillery


MSS 9380