TRANSCRIPTION:                                 

                                                              Camp of the 19th Wis. Vols.

                                         
                                           Near New Berne,  N.C.                                
                      
                                           February 7th, 1861

                             

Friends at home:

[Envelope addressed to Franklin Russell, Fall River, Columbia Co., Wisconsin]

            The dull monotony of our camp life has at last been broken!

            Last Monday morning, the first day of the month, the quiet of our camp was

shaken by a valley of musketry and the wild, inhuman noises from a thousand throats
 
of the Jeff Davis imps.  It happened this way:

            Picket’s Division of the Rebel Army for some time has been at Kingston/35 miles
 
west/, and Sunday night some of them descended on our outposts.  Because of the
 
negligence of our Cavalry scouts (it is said), they were undiscovered until Monday
 
morning.  They attacked our pickets at all points, and as a consequence, our forces at
 
Bachelor Creek composed of two Regts. and several pieces of artillery, were routed
 
with considerable less, and driven in a distance of 8 miles.  Also, at a point five miles
 
away on another road, four of our companies and one battery, were driven in with a
 
loss of two companies.  At Rocky Run six miles out from camp we had a Regt. of
 
cavalry which was driven in.  These units constituted the grand total of outposts on
 
that side of town.  By two o’clock p.m., they were all within the works around the city.

            On our side of the town, we have seven companies in camp, and at Brice’s
 
Creek, 1 ½ miles out on the Pollocksville Road, one; at Evan’s Mills, seven miles out on
 
another road, one; and one down the R.R., 15 miles out.  These comprise the infantry
 
on this side of town.

            Well, the volley and the shouts we heard in the morning were one mile from

Brice’s Creek.  A cavalry scouting unit was sent out and soon met the Rebs in force. 

They fired on the cavalry unit, killing one man, whereupon our scouts fell back across

the creek.  We/19^th Wis. Vols./ were soon on the ground under orders to hold the

 
bridge at all hazards – none too soon, for the Rebs had their lines formed in plain sight
 
in the open field, which lines extended for two miles, well backed up with artillery.

Their line of skirmishers came at us in perfect order, closely followed by six thousand
 
infantry in solid columns.

            Can you imagine the feelings within our band of 300 men?  Six pieces of
 
artillery and our 300 men was the entire forces we presented.  I was in command of
 
Co. C; the 1^st Lt. was laid up in camp with an infected leg.  Co. C was placed in support

 
our artillery, and I think we were exposed to the hottest fire.   (I suppose all others
 
thought that they were receiving the hottest).  The Rebs continued to move across the
 
field, and at the same time opened heavy fire from their artillery.  Our battery, and a
 
single gun in a nearby blockhouse, answered.  I tell you, for half an hour we had big
 
shot, little shot, hot shot, and fragmented shells flying around our ears, until I was
 
nearly charmed by the music.  But their fire ceased, and the smoke arose to let us see
 
them in full retreat for the woods.  Thus ended the first days fight around the city, but
 
the outposts at Evans Mills and on the railroad were not so fortunate.  They were
 
attacked at the same time, and had to leave double-quick.  The Rebs took possession of
 
their quarters and made short work of destroying them. 

            Newport, where the 9^th Vt. Regiment was, was attacked at the same time.  They
 

had to skedaddle, and their barracks also were burned.

            But Tuesday morning we could see but few Rebs, and could get no reply from
 
their guns.  Wednesday morning we found they had made for parts unknown; we were
 
not sorry.

            Yesterday I went out with three other companies 15 miles where we found their
 
pickets.  What scared them off to this distance is more than we know, for they had
 
force enough to eat us up had they pressed the thing.

            We lost but one man from my unit, which was almost a miracle.

            50 Rebs deserters have come in to our camp since the attackers left – all sick of
 
the war. 

            The slickest trick done by the Rebs was the capture of a gun boat right opposite

the city.  The crew men were made prisoners, and the boat was burned.  They boarded
 
her in the night, using small boats.  I dare hope that the boats officers were made to
 
walk to Richmond; the watch must have been drunk or asleep.  When the boat’s
 
magazine exploded it made a grand sight.

            I cannot write more just now.  I have not been in bed since Sunday night, and I
 
guess this poor letter shows it.  My health is good.  Write to me.

                                                                        Truly,
    

                                                                                    Alonso

                                                                             
                                                                                    Alonso H. Russell

                                                                                    2^nd Lt. 19^th Wis. Vols.