Near Gettysburg July 4 1863 6 A.M.

My dear Mary

We have had three days fighting commencing July 1, John myself Charly ? and Warren all well. I have never been in so much acct ? ? ? peril as on yesterday and the day before, but thanks be to God! I have escaped as by a miracle, when it appeared as if there could be no escape.

Tell Harry that ? Billy ( ? ? ) ? " ? under ". I ? him yesterday ? ? through the artillery ? and much infantry fire, but in the afternoon I joined the infantry in ( the crossed out )repulsing the first heavy assaulting columns. After the artillery had ? its ? in dispersing them. They ? ? ? and I stood ? with a ? ? ? ? over in our ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

and scary , as I was the only mounted officer on either side I was particularly ?, and ? . I was ? from Billy within a ? of ? ? two ? ? shot in the neck, the chest , the left ? shoulder, the right knee and the head which brought the ? feller down at last. I am sorry for Harry but it ? helped ? ? Billy fell with ? ? ? ? ? ? ? badly cut by a piece of shell so I am ?.

I am ? a sergeant ? until the Q ? can get ? two ? .

I have but a ? to ? ? ? do it sooner ? ? promised to send you a telegram through his wife and to write you also if he goes back for supplies ? Westminster.

The enemy is withdrawing. He has had a hard time of it. So Have we, but ? ? ? ? ? ? I think he only seeks a good position. but we ? ? think he has fully retired yet. Oh for McClellan Genl in chief for one week . If he were Lee would ? get out of Maryland.

This army has been left to fight a superior ? ? with ? and 30,000 men at Harrisburg ? and 10,000 at Balt-20,000 men in Balt and ?. In ? decide what might be got elsewhere The Army of The Potomac so far successful ? ?

Our loss in Arty. officers & men has been very heavy. Some of the best killed and many wounded. I have only ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? detached I understand with a train ? is ? been safe. My regards to the ?

Kiss the children for me. I will take good care of myself hereafter an ? well, but very hungry. ? ? supplies an ? but I will by a breakfast ? ? ? ?.