A Young Man of Promise: The Flower of the Family

Hospital of 3rd Div. 6th AC

                                                                      April 3,1865

Dearest Father & Mother,

            We had a glorious day yesterday. Have captured thousands & thousands of prisoners, charged and took the strong lines on which Lee depended to hold Petersburg & taken all their artillery – It was a second Fisher’s Hill only far more glorious & important a victory – It is reported that we have 16,000 prisoners & guns uncounted – Our Div. sent in over 4000 prisoners, as many as we had men to charge –

            You will be sorry enough to hear that I was severely wounded. I have lost my right foot. It was shot through lengthways & amputated just above the ankle joint – I am doing remarkably well however, and hope to get home soon  – We are going to City Pt. today & from there probably to Annapolis – Will write again as soon as we stop anywhere.

            I was hit just as the rebels made a stand & drove back our advance – I was captured for about an hour, when the rebels were driven back again & I was retaken. They took my watch, money (only about five dollars) and my sword, but otherwise treated me well enough – I lost but little blood & am in unusually good condition – I slept most of the night, my stump is not swollen & is doing very well – Write to Hattie – I will also write to her as soon as I can – Give her my dearest love and tell her that yesterday’s work fully pays us all for what we have lost. I can give my foot for such a cause with goodwill –

            No other officer in our Regt. was wounded except Lieut. Thompson very slight – being bruised by a spent ball – We have lost 30 to 50 men killed & wounded.

            I must close – Love to all – especially to Eddie – Write to Ogden too –

                                                                  Your dearest son

                                                                           Jas M.Read