[Samuel Hodgman letter, July 16, 1863, United States Civil War] : electronic edition

[page 1]

Camp near Sandy Hook Md Sandy Hook (Md.) July 16. 1863

Dear Brother

I received your letter
yesterday the first I have had
from home in some time
It has been stirring times with
us lately. The other day we were
under the fire of 120 guns Gettysburg, Battle of, Gettysburg, Pa., 1863 for
nearly two hours. All the
protection we had was a slight
barricade of rails. There is
no use trying to say anything
about the cannonade Words
wont express it. Some how
we seemed to be out of the
range. There seemed to be two
strata of the storm one would
burst over our heads or after
it had passed over us. The other
would strike in front & ricochet
over us. We went in 153 strong &

[page 2]
21 killed & 40 wounded
Our Lt Col Steele, Amos E., Jr. was killed also Wm Tripp Tripp, William A., d. 1863
& W. Smith Smith, William, d. 1863 of Galesburgh Galesburg (Mich.) (Co. I) United States. Army. Michigan Infantry Regiment, 7th (1861-1865). Company I I
did not get even a scratch. The
7th United States. Army. Michigan Infantry Regiment, 7th (1861-1865) & 59th N.Y United States. Army. New York Infantry Regiment, 59th (1861-1865) Saved the day on
the 2d. Both our flanks were turned
and two batteries, one each side
of us taken by the rebs, yet we
stuck to our barricade and
fought till they - what were left
of them - were glad to come into
our lines or skedaddle, doublequick
Our boys expressed a determination
never to retreat one inch from the
line as long as they could use bullets
or bayonets. We were fully prepared
to meet them with either and the
only reason that we did not use
the bayonet was that we shot them
down before they could get to us
We have made some tall marches
one day 30 miles, another 37, frequently

[page 3]
20 to 25. We are now nearly drilled
out. & I have nearly all my last
month's returns to make out, as
I could not do it on the march
I have to steal time to write this
when I am more at leisure I will
write more. I send you some
money hoping it may be useful
to you. Write often Love to
Father Mother & Charlie - I saw
Ramsdell, S. Harrison Harrison, Spencer John Dickie Dickey, John H.
& Osmer Cole Cole, Osmer F. a day or two ago at
Falling Waters. Falling Waters (Md.) They were well
They say Mart Adams Adams, Martin V. was taken
prisoner at Hagerstown. Hagerstown, Battle of, Hagerstown, Md., 1863 I only
saw them for a few minutes

Your Affectionate Brother

Saml. C. Hodgman Hodgman, Samuel Chase, 1831-1900

1.1

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1.2

Notes

• 1.1

  3d Brigade 2d Div. 2d A.C.
• 1.2

  Preserve these Photos
  for me. I shall
  spoil them carrying
  them in my pocket