May 7, 1863 Moses H. Buchanan to Arthur R. Buchanan

[Moses' letter appears to have been enclosed in an envelope sent home by his cousin Columbus M. Buchanan]

[envelope front]
Mr. Arthur Buchanan
Goodson
Bristol
Va

[left end envelope front]
Private C.M. Buchanan
In Company F. 63rd Regt
Va Vol.

[paragraphs added for ease of reading]

Spottsylvania Co Va
Dear Brother May 7th 1863
I take the present opportunity to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am yet alive and in tolerable health[.] We left our old camp the same day that I wrote my last letter and have been marching and fighting ever since[.]

Our first days march brought us to Fredericksburg after staying there two nights and a day we took a roundabout road for a place called Chancyville [Chancellorsville] as soon as we arrived at the proper place the troops were placed in line of battle and moved forward at once driving the enemy before us for about a mile when night put a stop to further opperations[sic][.]

Our loss on the first evening of the fight was not very heavy our regiment had one killed and three wounded[.] The battle commenced again on sunday morning and and [sic] raged with great fury our troops charging the enemy fortifications our regiment suffered severely in the charge[.]

I do not know the whole loss of our regt. Co. F lost six killed and eleven wounded Thomas Painter, William Buchanan, David hawthorn, Peter Mock, Samuel Faris[,] David Bullion, were killed.

Andrew Buchanan and John McClure are mortally wounded[.] Alderson Buchanan, William Blackwell[,] Robert Hawthorn are very badly wounded the balance of the wounds are very slight except capt Grahams; he was struck in the head with a piece of a bomb shell which caused a severe wound, Col Williams received a flesh wound in the arm[.]

I was not in the fight myself and feel thankful that I escaped as well as I did[.] When we came to Frederickburg [sic] I was detailed as one of the rear guard or rather a Provost guard we were deployed in rear of the line of battle far enough to be out of danger of the balls for the purpose of arresting straglers [sic] and sending them back to their regiments[.] The Yankees recrossed the river again yesterday morning whether Gen Lee intends to cross or not after them I cannot tell[.] I would rather stay on this side myself we are not strong enough to carry on an offensive war[.]

I have not received a letter from home for near two weeks[.] I am very anxious to hear how you are all getting along[.] Hoping these lines may find you all well I will close[.]

                                                 Your affectionate Brother
                                                                    Moses H. Buchanan

To Arthur R. Buchanan