Soldier's Letter, Civil War, January 1862

 Chenango Telegraph, Norwich, NY, February 5, 1862

Letter from P. Frink, the Ellsworth Regiment

Camp Battlefield, Va., Jan. 21, 1862

Dear Friend, It is with much pleasure that I write the following lines to let you know the horrible scenes that the poor "South hill" boys have encountered within the last two days.  The Regiment went out on picket guard yesterday and came in today.  We were posted about ten miles from [-?-] towards the rebels, with [-?-].  Gideon Evans and I were on one post, and King and Thomas Crumb on another post next to ours and about ten rods distant.  Everything went well yesterday until it became dark.  [unreadable] After we had been there about -?- when we were suddenly surprised by the tramp of horses behind us.  There was a small cove of woods between us such that we did not see them until they got most on to us.  The reserve of our men was still back of us, the rebel cavalry being between us and the reserve.  I should think there was as many as thirty of them making their way toward us.  I halloed "Who comes there? Halt."  They kept advancing, when Gideon Evans fired on them.  I soon after fired as also did King, and Thomas Crumb, dismounting one of the devils. They then rushed on to and surrounded us when G. Evans drew a revolver and shot one of them dead on the spot.  The revolver was immediately taken from him, and the rest of us having our arms removed, we were taken prisoners.  They placed us on the horses ahead of them and rode away with us as a dog would lag off a woodchuck.  We dare not say a word for fear of what was to come.

We had not rode more than two miles before we found relief.  It happened that the 18th Michigan regiment had been out skirmishing through the day and had stopped for quarters in a piece of woods through which our new acquaintances had to go, and we were suddenly aroused by a few shots, which dismounted three of the rebels, one bullet whistling close by my head.  They took the most of our foes prisoners and us with them.  They were surprised to see four Union men among them.  We soon told them the story and our arms being restored to us, we were conducted back to our friends. Words cannot express the joy that was felt by us and the Regiment, especially the Chenango boys, when we came into camp today safe and sound and well.

Yours, &c, P. Frink.