Melvin Richmond
Residence was not listed; 18 years old.
Enlisted on 9/6/1864 at Albany, NY as a Priv.
On 9/6/1864, he mustered into New York 11th Light Artillery.
He was Mustered Out on 6/13/1865 at Albany, NY
Sources used by Historical Data Systems, Inc.:
New York: Report of the Adjutant-General 1893-1906
 
Camp of the 11th N.Y. Battery
At the front near Hatcher’s Run
March the 27 (1865?)
Dear Father,
I sit down to answer your letter of the 14th.  It came at hand last night and it found me in good health and I hope this will find you all enjoying the same blessing.  You will probably hear of the battle not he 25th before this reaches you.  On the morning of the 25th about 3 o’clock heavy firing was heard on the right down by Pettersburge and about 7 o’clock we had order to harness and hitch and pack up every thing which was obeyed soon and then picket firing commenced in our front and troops began to move and I thought there was a going to be a general attack but picket firing kept up, now and then with volleys and about 12 o’clock we heard that the Rebs had broke through our lines down on the right and got up by Meals Station, that is down in front of Pettersburge  and our boys swung around and captured about 2000 of them and drove the rest back but it did not stop there.  The picket firing kept up and now and then a cannon was fired and some Johnyes that came in said about 4 o’clock we would ____ from them for they had a mart lot of them and sure enough about half past 4 such a yell and then musketry I have not heard since I have been out here and I have heard it quite often but no like that and it kept up until night.  But a close up in front of us there was an opening in the woods and we could see our line of battle.  The Johnny’s made all of the charging and we could see our boys raise up and fire.  Artillery was not used much although we fired our pieces and and then.  We lay just back in our works and could see and hear it all the while.  The first shot our piece fired went right in the Rebs fort.  The morning of the 26th went on the battle ground but they had buried the dead and all I could see was caps, haversacks, canteens, knapsacks stained with blood where some poor fellow had breathed his las.  The Rebs pickets is not ten rods from our.  I could see them and hear them talk about the battle.  There was firing this morning but it has ceased.  I got that shirt and send the other.  I wrote about it in a letter before this.  We only got 4 months pay and I will keep the rest.  Give that ten to Mother.  Send me some stamps or I can not write no more at present.
From you son,
Melvin Richmond
To Martin Richmond
Please write soon