Franklin County: Jacob Shearer to Harriet McElheney, March 26,
1865
Summary:
At Sylvester McElheney's request, Shearer writes to Harriet McElheney to tell her that her
husband has been wounded but is expected to recover. He was shot in the leg when Confederate
soldiers broke through their regiment's picket line.
March the 26th, 1865
Camp In Front of Petersburg
Army of the Potomac
Well Friend
I feel it my duty this pleasant Sabbeth Evening to inform you that
I just came from the hospital from seeing your husband and he requested me to write you a
letter to let you know how he was and what had happened him. the Rebs did make a break in
through the picket line about one mile from this yesterday morning and we was called out about
5 o'clock and about 6 o'clock we was in
line of battle in front of the enemy and we had just gave them two volleys when Sylvester and
I
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was both wounded. Sylvester is wounded through the leg
but I guess the bone is not fractured any at least he thinks so.
He was in very good spirits today and I
think that it won't be sore very long. I got a
slight tap through one of my fingers on the left hand. Mine is a vrey
light wound but it is pretty sore today. Sylvester was taken to the
Hospital just shortly after he was wounded and I came back to camp. There was eight wounded in
our Company and one killed. The rest of the boys are all out yet lying at the breastworks. There was some of them had to go on picket last night
but they will come in this evening but we drove the rebs back and they lost a good many men. They had taken two or three of our
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forts before we
got to them but we soon took them all back and the report is that we took fifteen hundred
prisoners. There was over three hundred of the rebs filled and our loss doesn't exceed more than three hundred killed wounded and missing. The 100drth Reg and the 200drth Regt, 207th, 208th, 209th, 211th
was in the fight. Old General Lee told his men that they would go to City Point again. Eleven
o'clock when they started but the old fellow missed that game but if
they would had one half hour more they would been at Meads Station and that is on the City
Point railroad. Well I must soon bring my scribling to a close
for I will have to get at and get supper for Phillip and Will Sibert so I have it ready when they come in. So nothing more at present
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But before I
close I will give you the names of the rest of the boys that was wounded in our Company. There
is Corporal Samuel G. Smith, Corporal Daniel T. Ritter, David E. Saylor, Sergeant Smith, William Hull and George Emory had part of the sole shot off one of his shoes
but did not touch his foot. And Corporal Shull was killed. So now I
will close which I do in good health with the exception of a sore finger.
Respectfully yours
Jacob Shearer
Company F, 208th Regiment PV
1st Brigade 3rd Division 9th
Army Corps
Washington
D.C.
Good Bye To Mrs. Harriet A. McElheney
