Oxford Times, May 6, 1863
Letter from the 10th N.Y. Cavalry
Warrenton Junction, Va., April 26th, 1863
Dear Times: Having been absent from you for but a short time, yet having passed through many changes since, I thought perhaps you would like to know of our whereabouts. When I reached our old camp, I found the Regiment had left at 7 a.m., and as soon as I could get ready I took my blankets, one suit of under clothes, and at 6 o'clock p.m. I started in pursuit of my command. I rode some 25 miles through the lots and woods. About one-half of the way was through a country previous to that had been occupied by the enemy. I went on alone, yet well armed, and at 12 m I came up with the rear of the column and staid there until 3 a.m. when I again started on as before in pursuit of my company. I found at daylight, Co. K doing picket duty on the road, and in about 15 minutes afterwards the column was put in motion, and at 12 m we were drawn up in line of battle at Realton Station, where the enemy for the first time made any resistance to our march. At this place they had a strong picket, yet they left like leaves before a whirlwind at our approach. It would have done our patriotic friends at home good to see how anxious were all the boys to meet the rebels in mortal combat, aside from a man or two, who were a little weak kneed, they acted like veterans.
The 1st Maine Regiment who were on that day in the advance of our Brigade moved from the Station to the Rappahannock River in two lines driving the Rebels before them and across the River, one at the ford above the Rappahannock Station and one at the Railroad bridge at the Station, two companies now dismounted and crossed the bridge in the face of the concentrated fire of the rebel sharp shooters, driving them from their entrenchment, killing four and wounding five, they also killed several horses. They left in such a hurry as to leave six carbines, without first discharging them, which with some other articles fell into our hands, the artillery not being up. We were obliged to wait awhile for them to come up, and in the meantime it commenced to rain, and by daylight the next morning the river had risen six feet, so we were unable to cross at the ford and had to fall back.
We therefore fell back to near Realton Station, and just as we were fairly out of range, the rebels commenced to shell our former position from the opposite side of the river. In all our encounters with the rebels so far, strange to say, we escaped without injury of any kind to our side. The same storm which caused the flood rendered the roads impassible for the wagons with forage for our horses.
We are now at Warrenton Junction about 60 miles from Washington, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. Yesterday at 5 a.m., Jotham Woods of our company who left Oxford last fall with us and pledged his all in the defense of the old flag, and had once we have been here shown the strongest attachment to the Union cause, and was justly entitled to the respect of his comrades for his steadfast devotion to the cause, he had so heartily espoused, died of his wound. His death was a sad blow to the company although there had been three previous deaths in the company, they occurred in the Hospital and not in the company. He was buried at sunset the 25th inst., in a pleasant place near a large cherry [tree], on an elevated mound near the Station, all the company being present. The men would have subscribed $200 to send his remains home, yet the authorities would not allow it to be done. I offered to furnish their funds, but the request was denied us, for good reasons, I suppose. We are all in hopes that a like accident may not befall us, yet if for the putting down of this rebellion it is necessary that good men and true fall, we are here to stand our chance and to do our all for the cause of the glorious old institutions and for the support of the right. F.
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