Brown: July 14, 1862
Camp Near James River Mo July 14th
Dear Sister Frankey
It has been A long time since I have herd from you We have had A hard fight in front of Richmond it lasted 7 days & the enemy drive us back to Harrisons Landing 15 miles from Fair oaks our loss is heavy it is said to be 15,000 killed wounded & missing & the rebels loss is 40,000 that they Print in the Richmond Examiner it is their own account for I saw the paper & read the account my self they call our retreat one of the greatest pieces of Gen(?) Ships ever performed on this continent to retreat that distance & not loose in the whole thing enough to amount to 30 wagons & completely demoralize their Army In my Co the figs is 17 killed & wounded & Chas Dodge is one of them & he is probably dead for when I left him he could not speak the Balls passed through his neck he was bleeding to death fast the Dr said he would not live an hour & then I left him for the enemy was close on to me the wounded wer taken prisoner those that could not get away.. in the VT Brigade the is 500 strong & the Briga dies.. Gen wounded in the knee.. but he did not leave us in the fight to get out the (?) way we could but stayed with his men & his horse & Sadle was covered with Blood My health is rather poor this summer & the fatigue & exposies has run me down till I am of from duty the other Boys are as well as usual
my love to Elisa Frank and Kitty good Bye as ever.. E S. Brown 2nd VT VA Co G Washington D.C.
