Letters From War Wednesday: Civil War – Charles Fall.

In May 1864, General Grant launched his Overland Campaign, a relentless war of attrition aimed at forcing Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia into submission and ending the American Civil War.

Charles Fall - 26th Michigan Infantry

This Letters From War Wednesday features a note from infantryman Charles Fall, who served in Grant’s army with the 26th Michigan of Hancock’s II Corps.

“This is the 20th day of the fight, or since we broke camp, & we have whipped Lee on every side & forced him to leave his works and fall back on Richmond, or near there,” Fall wrote on May 24, 1864, from the South Anna River.  “His main body now is within twenty miles of there and we are steadily advancing. The firing on our front is rather heavy while I am writing.

“Gen Grant is the boy for us. He understands what he is doing and makes everything shure as he goes. Our Corps (2nd) are as to make the flank movements now, which causes us to make some hard marches, but not so heavy fighting as some of the others. Still, we accomplish as much if not more.” The epic Battle of Cold Harbor lay just days away.

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