Letter from Benjamin F. Spencer Civil War soldier - July 1862

Letter from B.F. Spencer - Civil War Soldier

Chenango American, July 17, 1862

Camp near Harrison Landing, Va.
July 4, 1862

Dear Father and Mother:  Within the past week we have had some very strange strategic movements, and at this time our army has a different position from what it held when I wrote you last.  June 26th as we were in camp, we could hear a fight going on near Mechanicsville, which became near or as night advanced. As soon as night was fairly set in the firing ceased, and for the time being it was still.

The next morning brought on the firing again and we soon learned that McCall's and Porter's Divisions were fighting the forces of Stonewall Jackson, who had broken into our lines and was doing big business generally.  Soon the order came to fall in and we fell in and went to support a battery to keep the Rebels from crossing a bridge on the Chickahominy.  But the Rebels did not show themselves upon this point, and we were ordered to go and assist Gen. Porter and McCall. We started for Jame's Hill where the battle was raging and arrived there about 4 in the afternoon and found the Rebels were in possession of a house in front of us and the sharp shooters were picking off officers from our ranks and Col. Bartlett (a brave and good man) ordered the 27th to charge upon them which we did, and drove them from the house and out building where they were concealed, and they fell back to the woods and brush in the rear of the house.  At first the smoke was so thick that we could not see them fairly, and they poured in volley after volley into our ranks, but soon we could see them and if ever Rebels took cold lead it was then.  They were no more than 100 yards from us, upon their knees and laying down on the ground where the smoke had kept them from our sight until it arose so that we could see them fairly and plainly. We had a good rake at them.  It was so near night we could not hope to hold the house, and the battle was not to drive them but to hold them in check, so we were ordered to retreat and we fell back and probably the Rebs again took quiet possession of the house.  We fell back a short distance and waited for them to advance upon our lines and get a little grape and cannister, which was in store for them. But they had no appetite for hard bread and kept back, and we went back to camp again, thinking of the poor fellows who lay upon the field dead. 

In the morning at quite an early hour we were ordered to fall in with knapsacks and go somewhere, but where no one knew, but I suppose it is just as well that we did not. We soon found ourselves moving on towards James River where was to be formed the base of the new line of operations against the Rebel capital, which to many seems disastrous in our army. But I think this movement will prove to be a great benefit to the nation. 

The movement has been conducted as quietly and with as much order as possible, showing that we have Generals and good ones left yet.  Although we have lost a great many men yet they could be spared as well as not for the greatest share of our loss has been stragglers that fell out as soon as they began to be the least tired, and let the rebels overtake and capture them, as they were behind the main army; but I think that we have killed four times as many Rebels in our match as they have of ours, for we would advance and take our position and let them come on and then mow them down with grape and cannister.  At times it seemed as if they thought that we were whipped, and all that they had to do was to march up and demand a surrender which they done in one advance.  A column of men advanced through a piece of woods and came within sight of our battery within good range and demanded its surrender but the Capt. of the battery couldn't see it in that light, and before mister Secesh had time to think about it, he got a charge of grape and cannister from two batteries that he knew nothing of.  They rallied and came on intent upon taking the battery, but almost every second they received a charge of the iron hand until they were almost annihilated.  Every day they had just such treatment as this, which is hard but honest.  Our Regiment has not suffered as much as many others, but it has lost a great many good men and quite a number of -?-.  I have not time to write more now and will close, so good bye.

Your son, B.F. Spencer
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From Adjutant-General Report; 27th New York Infantry
Benjamin F. Spencer:  Age, 23 years.  Enlisted, May 21, 1861, at Elmira, to serve two years; mustered in as private, Co. D; mustered out with company, may 31, 1863, at Elmira, N.Y.

In first battle of Bull Run.  wounded in leg slightly.  At Antietam.