BUTLER’S FRONT, Va.
Sept. 29, 1864.
MR. EDITOR:
Having a little leisure time, I write you to give your readers in Bedford County the doings of Co. H, 208th [Pennsylvania] Regiment. The officers of our Company are Capt. Harvey Wishart, 1st. Lieut. W[illia]m. G. Eicholz, 2nd Lieut. David Keagy. They are men worthy the position they occupy, and are well-liked by every member of the company. Your humble correspondent has been appointed Regimental Post Master.
We received marching orders yesterday [September 28, 1864] and were brought up here to the front in haste, and now occupy the center of the line. We are holding this post while the fighting is going on at the right.1 Today [September 29, 1864] there was very heavy fighting on the right and the Rebs badly used up, though many of our brave boys have fought their last battle. Heavy firing is heard toward Petersburg this evening, but that is nothing unusual. I think the Rebel capitol will soon have the dear old flag waving over it.
You will please send my paper to me instead of to my former abode, as we are all anxious to have Bedford County news.
As this is my first attempt at newspaper correspondence you will please excuse all errors and omissions, and “as brevity is the soul of wit,” I close the present. Resp[ectfull]’y. Yours,
DAVID S. JOHNSON.2
SOPO Editor’s Note: This article was transcribed by Roy Gustrowsky.
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Source/Notes:
- SOPO Editor’s Note: On September 29, 1864, Grant’s Fifth Offensive against Petersburg and Richmond kicked off. The “fighting…going on at the right” was the Battle of New Market Heights and the ensuing Battle of Fort Harrison or Chaffin’s Farm. These battles were occurring north of the James River, while the 208th PA was stationed in the intrenchments on the Bermuda Hundred line, just south of the James River. ↩
- No Title. The Bedford Inquirer (Bedford, PA), October 21, 1864, p.1, col. 6. ↩