Saturday --Cloudy & gloomy--Just in unison with my feelings
The Richmond dispatch of the 27th tells of a battle going on--& much less
of life--Major General Hill at 3 o clock precisely crossed the Chickahominy--The
Yankees seemed perfectly aware of his coming. General Hill with 12000 men
engaged the whole of McClennans forces until night put an end to the unde
cided contest. General Branch did not reach there until nightfall--Du-
ring the whole time of the contest large reinforcements were passing the Chickaho-
miny under General Lee. But none of the forces engaged in the gattle were un
der fire--General lee did not reach MechanicksVille untill 9 oclock at night
when the battle was over--General Hill is the Hero of Williamsburg He was
then a Brigadier & won on the field his title of Major General. & the battle of
yesterday he displayed in the highest degree all the talents of a commander
with the exception of proper caution for his own life which he exposed from the
first shot to the last with the recklessness of a trooper. The Regiments enga
-ged were the
under the command of General A R Wright--This force was supported in the
engagement by a portion of General Ransom's brigade consisting of the
48th & 28 North Carolina commanded by Colonel Rutledge--The Centre
of the enemy was attacked first driving the pickets in. The 1st Louisana[sic] made
a brilliant charge encountering 3 regiments of the Enemy on the right
of the road---This gallant Regiment & the 22d Georgia fought the enemy's centre
for several hours & when forced to retire fell back in good order--On the left
Colonel Rutledge led the advance with his regiment supported by the 3d Geor-
-gia on the extreme right as well as in the centre the fighting was extremely
fierce. This portion of the field being gallantly contested by the 4th Georgia which
3 times repulsed the enemy & was supported by Colonel Hills 48th N Carolina
During the engagement the Enemy brought up 2 pieces of artillery from which our men suffered
badly
Received a letter from Tom to day which caused me low spirits to think he is again
a private--Mr Mason, whose
ment of Ordnance Sergeant & whom to be with he accepted it--Having
asked to be relieved from his office which was over Tom--Tom has also
determined to ask the Colonel to relieve him too & return to his
situation only Mr Mason wished him to take it which he did
to be near him & so far he says they have had a pleasant time together
["]But as Mr Mason has determined to leave & I will be alone here amongst
strangers & an uncongenial set I think it best to go back to my
Regiment"-- He says further if they would allow my wagon to stay with
the Regiment--I would still hold this office. But they will not--
He mentions the death of a Mr Collins--once Overseer for Liz & the mar
riage of Miss O Kearney a great favourite of his with Mrs Andrews'
oldest son--a minister. Jimmie Andrews married Miss Thomas month
ago--They ought both to be where my sons are, fighting for their
Liberty--Their homes --& their families. I answered Toms letter but
dont know when he will receive it.
Tom= her son Thomas Hill of the 18th Mississippi Co. K (Burts Rifles)
Mr. Mason= Captain James M. Mason, her future son-in-law
Liz= Elizabeth Branch Hill, daughter of North Carolina governor John Branch and her widowed daughter-in-law
MSS 6960
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