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Sheet 1 Extracts from Walter's letters

June 6 We have not had any fighting since the taking of Hanover Courthouse but the enemy are determined to make a desperate stand on the other side of the Chickahominy Creek, and will have to fight hard to drive them from their strong hold. We can do it in a short time however, but a great deal of blood will of course be spilt, and we expect it and are ready to do our best, and if need be lay our lives upon the alter of our country. Subdue the traitors who have put such a dark stain upon its fair name. At Richmond they will gain or lose all they been fighting for, And I am confident they will lose, although they will fight with desperation it is their last and only chance. My

arm ( ? ) is strong & I am ready to go in again for better of worse, as it may be- Our little Regiment only numbers about three hundred fighting men, and we are expected to do as much as a full Regiment of a thousand men, We can do it by hard fighting I suppose, but it seems hard to us