SOLDIER 55 



They get back here to camp and it is exceedingly pro- 

 voking. With ever so much love, 



HENRY. 



May 28 he writes : 



As there is an opportunity to send letters, I will write 

 a few lines to let you know of my safety. This is the sixth 

 day of the siege and we are pretty well played out. We have 

 had to fight for every inch of ground, but have carried the 

 first two earthworks by storm. It has been one continual 

 fight since we commenced, but there is a cessation of hostili- 

 ties for a few hours, and the lull is a perfect relief, for my 

 ears have been half -stunned by the deafening roar of artil- 

 lery and the crack of musketry. We have lost four killed 

 and twenty wounded and some thirty in our regiment 

 missing. Again, in my little company, have four been 

 wounded one fatally, so I am afraid. My life has been 

 in great danger several times, but a kind Providence has 

 kept watch over me thus far and I trust will bring me out 

 safe to see you again. The regiment is now under the com- 

 mand of Major McManus. The colonel is prostrate with 

 a remittent fever at Bayou Sara, and the lieutenant-colonel 

 is sick at New Orleans. The colored regiments have fought 

 splendidly and made several brilliant charges. 



In haste, HENEY. 



The next letter is dated June 20 and carries the story 

 to a day or two after the second assault on the rebel works, 

 and was probably written from the camp of the storming 

 column; but not a hint as to that subject. A chaplain's 

 wife writing to her husband says, "We get no letters from 



