this regiment has established its reputation as a fighting regiment not a man flinched, though it was a trying time. men fell all around me. a shell would explode and clear a space of twenty feet, our men would close up again, but it was no use we had to retreat, which was a very hazardous undertaking. how i got out of that fight alive i cannot tell, but i am here. my dear girl i hope again to see you. i must bid you farewell should i be killed. remember if i die i die in a good cause. i wish we had a hundred thousand colored troops we would put an end to this war. good bye to all write soon your own loving lewis