Hammonasset State Park
Madison, Connecticut
April 25-26, 1998 May 5th, 1863
near Chancellorsville, Vir.

Dear Friends,

Our beloved troops are on the move again, and have come across some hard fighting that I know you must have read about in the papers these past few days. I write in hopes of telling you something of our efforts and what has happened to us near here.

We marched in column most of the day, with our regiment arriving piecemeal throughout the afternoon. We were assigned to Col. Mark Adlers' brigade of three battalions, the old Eighth being 1st company, 2d brigade. We took up residence on the far right flank of the assembled host in this region, and rested Friday night expecting to go into action at dawn against the enemy.

Dawn came, revielle and a cannon were used to wake us. We were immediately put into line, roll call made, and marched right off to the drill field. There we drilled the evolutions of parade, manual of arms, school of the company to Lt. Boucher's satisfaction. We returned to camp for a brief break for breakfast, fixed quickly over the fires, and then were assembled for battalion dress parade, battalion drill, and more company drill. Such is the army. Once returned to the company street, our Corporals posted the guards, and kept the vigilence towards the enemy.

Shortly after the meridian, we were called out, assembled, and marched off further to the flank, and posted there in line of battle. Some pickets were out, and the rest of us were allowed to rest after the long march. Some did just that, and others played soldiers games with rocks, cards, and stories. Our company had a mail call so that the Sgt. would not lose the whole lot if we were involved with the enemy. The boys relished the news from home, and shared their news among themselves. Others kindled little coffee fires, and refreshed themselves right behind the lines. Still others dozed as soldiers are known to do at every opportunity.

Suddenly, the alarm from the rear scared all of us back to this reality. Our lines had been faced to the west, and by some chance, the rebels were bowling into us from the east. Our flanks had been turned. We were summoned into line, and quickly faced by the rear rank, so that we were fighting inverted. And fight we did, with continuous fire by file, until it was apparent to us that we were going to be overrun. There were some boys who showed the white feather, and made for our rear, being our recent front. Others were restrained. The first battalion to our front melted under the rebel attack, with total casualties. We could see them down, but could not help. We fought until our losses were about half our number, when we were withdrawn in order, or almost I would say, and we reestablished our line of battle and continued firing at least twice over the half mile push. At last, the rebels charged with their banshee yells, and we yielded, running back once more. The reserves made it safe for us, tried to defend our guns, but after all, the rebel numbers and their elemet of surprise won the guns, the field, and the day.

We returned to our camp, and rested some. The boys took up the challenge of our friendly foes, the 1st.MD to our favorite game of Townball. We have been playing against them at our every meeting, and have instituted at bell as the trophy, to be held by the winner of the latest match. The 8CV has been doing well at keeping the bell of late. However, this day, though we got off to a fine start, our efforts were thwarted by the Marylanders, and they took the game 21-8. The bell is their prize, but Capt. did not have it in his baggage to surrender. Promises were made.

We then set about making the fires and some company stew in various degrees of spice, so that we might make easy work of the chore. It was good to have some hot rations. The evening was spent in shivering from the cold and damp, and the horrors of the day. It seems the the Capt. was retained under guard in the night by the Marylanders who wanted to ransom him for the bell, but no one of our boys had noticed, and they sent no word, but released him after emptying his flask. He was of no more use to them that night.

Morning did come again, and so did the cannon call. Again, roll call was the first order, seconds after the call, and we were formed and marched off on a reconnaissance. We toured our position of yesterday, calculated to measure the rebel strength in the area, but we encountered none. We were halted in a thick brush, and allowed to bivoack for our breakfast. Shortly, each mess had a small fire going, and coffee, salt pork, and corn mush were soon smelt in the air. We partook of the victuals in short order, since the soldiers all know that as soon as the food is on the fire, that is when the call comes to move on. But we avoided that heart break today, since Capt. Kurtz had to return to camp for officers call, and we were left with the NCOs who also like their breakfast.

Whence we returned to camp, we were assembled for the obligatory brigade dress parade, and teh battalion drilling, which included by the right of companies to the front, &c. then were returned to company command. The honorable 8th Conn. Vols. then formed with the 14th CV and were once more schooled in the art of the company drill. We worked on the platoon drills, column of platoons, and the evolutions of columns to line of battle, back again, and into and out of flank formations. We retired back to camps and guard mounts once we were satisfied that the drills had been successful.

Our noon rations were small, but augmented by the left over stews of many colors from the evening past. Some rain had begun to fall on us, and it was soon clear that it had no intentions of passing, yet it was not untolerably heavy, only aggravating. Yet, it is the plight of the soldier not to concern himself with such trivial matters when there is life and limb to worry about hard by. And those worries were realized singularly soon, as the call to fall in came almost the same hour as it did the day previous.

This time, our battalions were advanced separately, and the following ones were indeed obscured from the enemies eyes until needed, so as to deciev him, as they had surprised us the day before. It seemed that the rebel forces on the field were not as numerous or as strong as the day previous, so our boys were able to stand toe to toe withthem and deal them a severe fight. While one battalion held them in front, ours came up on our right flank, and pored it into them obliquely, then left wheeled to take them in the flank. It all worked well, and the rebel lines crumbled under the weight of the lead. The battle was short work, so that the pitched battle of yesterday that was our ruin was reversed, leaving us in possession of a portion of what we had lost before. The losses on both sides were mounting, yet the armies were only exchanging punches, with no real progress.

Yet, the word and rumors on the field now say that the Union command has lost its will and nerve, and is withdrawing fomr these part,s and will not advance and engage the enemy. Some of the boys are pleased to be out of risk for a day, but hope that our motions are reversed soon, so that we might finish this work, go home in honor, and not be left to grow old in this army. We are striking camp, adn will be on the move by evening. It is often that we march at night, and it is better for the heat, and spies. Once we know where we end up, I will write again of our trials. I pray that you also do the same as often as you think of me. God Bless you and our families. Keep the faith that we can restore this government with the will of the strong.

Love,
Kim