Homer Curtiss, 2nd C.H.A., June 16, 1864

Homer Curtiss, 2nd C.H.A., June 16, 1864

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865

United States. Army. Connecticut Artillery Regiment, 2nd (1863-1865)

Cold Harbor, Battle of, Va., 1864

Homer Curtiss writes to his family about rejoining his regiment after the Battle of Cold Harbor.

1864-06-16

6-98

On board Steamer "John A Warner"
40 miles up James River June 16th 1864

Dear Friends
This is something new, life on the
water. I have been afloat more than 24 hours, having
left Alex per steamer "Tillie" yesterday. Had a lovely
sail all day, and all night too, I presume, though after
11 o'c it was nothing to me. I might as well have been abed
in dear, slow, old Warren as in the cabin of the Tillie, for
all the effect the sail had on me. We got to Fortress
Monroe at 11 o'c this a.m. just in time to connect with
the present boat bound to Bermuda Hundred, the
near base of supplies for the army. And so here we
go up the river this murky, sultry, hazy day, to meet
our old friends of the 2d Conn. H. Artillery. May I
meet the dear boys soon and merge myself quietly
into the 2nd very soon. Then and not until then will
"Richard be himself again". I heard from some of 
sick that came up to Alex. yesterday morning that the 2d
has a new Col. a U.S. Capt. or as we all call them "regulars"
Maj. Hubbard is Lt. Col. and Capt. Skinner Maj. Good.

[page 2]
Camp in the Pines
Withing 22 mile of Richmond, near
Fort Darling ^Petersburg Friday June 17 1864
We ran up the James until 5 o'c when we were 
stopped by a pontoon bridge across the river, which
effectually debarred our farther progress, and was passing
over the army trains as rapidly as possible. I was just
a little impatient at the halt, but as I could not seem
to help it, I bore all complacently, and went and lounged
in the ladies saloon. As I lounged and read a very
ancient Herald I heard the Capt. say that he had
heard that the 6th Corps had crossed the bridge this p.m. and that the whole army was en route and all 
had already or would soon cross the bridge. This 
was worth while, for if the army crossed here I might
as well join it here as go up to Bermuda Hundred
better for my pass said toe the Army of the Potomac
so when a little later my boat put her tows ashore
I jumped off and leaving the portage made diligent
inquiries for the 6th Corps. To my great joy I learned
that it had not crossed yet but was lying close by
some said 1 some 3 miles away. I trudged up
a half mile perhaps inquiring first for the 1st Division
then for the 2d Brigade and almost before I found

[page 3]
the Division distinctly, I heard amid the confusion ^and due of
a moving Corps Cap. now Maj. Skinner's familiar "H-halt
H-front. H-right. H-dress" and saw fat Cap. Burnham.
So I was soon among the boys, shaking hands, asking all
manner of questions and being asked as many. Thus
the securing impediment in the river proved to be the
very thing to facilitate my finding the Regt. If there
is a moral to my story you can deduce it. I'm in a hurry
I spent the evening with the boys talking and visiting
rapidly. Capt. Hosford gave me a letter from Lucy and one
from Fannie at HQ P.O. and I read part of Fannie's by
the firelight. Austin and I talked by the moon and firelight
until 12 o'c when the bugle sounded the assembly and we 
all fell in and by short stages marched down to the river
a distance of 10 rods perhaps where we loaded on 2 boats
6 Cos on each and by the strange weird moonlight we steamed
up the river. I dozed and do not rightly know how far we
sailed but I think we lay to part of the night any way
we were up pretty well up the James in the morning and our
boat went up the Appomattox to Point of Rocks where we dis
embarked a little after sunrise, went up on the bank and
breakfasted in the sand, hot enough to roast effs on was
the sand. A strange kind of breakfast and life to me.

[page 4]
After breakfast we marched a mile and rejoined the
other wing of the Regt. and made a bit of a halt, and
along after noon we marched over here into the woods.
We staid till 1 o'c this ^ Sat June 18 morning in our tents, when we
were called out and made a little ineffectual march but
came back to breakfast here and have since remained
here ^in camp much to the boys satisfaction who are well
tired but going on to days rest.
All has changed. The bright muskets + brass, clean
coats and pants, black boots and white gloves are all gone
now behold the dirtiest of clothes, rustiest of musket and [unclear]
burnt [unclear] supply the place, but the 
boys are in good spirits and health generally and I am
very glad to be with them. We are gathered a mile and a
half of the reb works but are not exposed particularly.
We have a regular Capt. for Col. Capt. Mackenzie and
Hubbard is Lt. Col. + Skinner Maj. as I heard in Alex
but did not believe. We wear the red cross instead 
of bright crossed cannon the badge of our Corps + Div.
Sackett is in hospital sick, he was not wounded at
Coal Harbor but had one of the narrowest of escapes, a ball
grazing his throat and nexk enough to make a contusion
but no abrasion. Austin as I said before was sick and
not in the charge, he is a bit incapacitated but not sick
We are in the midst of celebrities. Gen Gilmore's Hdqrs
are close by on the river. Gen. Butler's down by Point of Rocks
Gen. Grant was at Bermuda Hundred yesterday but better
than all these are the 7th C.I. is close by and I have been
enjoying a pleasant chat with Alf Hatch [unclear] was
with him! He is a Sergt without aspirations and a
bully boy. They are pounding away at Petersburg, a little
sulfur there and cannonade is the order of the day. 
With much love I remain ever yours, Homer.

ALS