Date: September 5, 1862
GK: Walt Whitman's brother George wrote to his mother in Brooklyn:
We arived here about 4 Oclock this morning after marching 14 miles during the night and found the fight going on, our side haveing altogather the best of it. After resting a short time we were ordered into a peice of woods where the enemy were strongly posted and our Brigade threw off our knapsacks and formed line of battle in a ravine in the rear of the Battery as the enemy had broken through our left and were trying to flank us and cut off our Artillary. We went in on a double quick and with a yell and our Brigade ran slapp into the rebels before we knew where we were (as it was getting quite dark) and they poured a volley into us before we could form in line of battle. Our men broke a little at the first volley but we soon rallied them and then began about as sharp a fight as I ever wish to see. As soon as the action commenced I took a rifle from one of our men who had been shot and we soon drove the rebels but they rallied and came on again but we were ready for them this time and they gave way again and fell back we stayed there and waited for them till about 9 Oclock but they had enough and did not make another attempt. Our Regt left the field, the last Regt engaged in the terrible fight of Saturday and the last to leave the field we fell back as far as Centreville where we lay Sunday and sunday night and on Monday the enemy made another attempt...
GK: ...and our Regt was ordered into a Cyprus swamp where the trees were so thik we could hardly walk and the rain was falling in torrents completely soaking us. we only found a few of the enemys skirmishers who we drove out but the Regiments who went in on the left of us among which was the Mass 21st was completely cut to peices our regiment has lost in killed and wounded and missing 92 or men of which our company lost 15
The 14th of Brooklyn have lost very heavy among the killed are Captains Davey and Mallery. Joe Grummond is wounded in the leg. I saw Joe a short time before he was hit and after he was wounded he was carried through the lines of our Regt. It was very discouraging to us as we lay on the hill to see hundreds of men leave their regiments without being hurt at all and some 2 or 300 wounded were either carried or walked through our ranks going to the rear. I think we was completely out generald the most of our men was good enough but I think that they was badly handled. We shall probably encamp here for a few days to recruit up a little. Mother do not feel the least uneaisiness about me as I never was heartier or ruggeder in my life.
Everything now is quiet and it is quite a releif to be out of the sound of canon after hearing it almost daily, and sometimes nightly, for two or three weeks. We have enough to eat and plenty of good cool spring water. We have been provided with shelter tents, which are very good on account of the heavy dews we have here, and for a shade, but as the two ends are open they are not much use in a storm...
GK: ... When we move we tie it on our backs so we always have our houses with us and can make ourselves at home wherever we stop.