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4th Vt. Infantry, Gains Mill Va June 8th 1864.
My dear Mother,
Once more I have an opportunity to write a line, which I will improve. We are now on Picquet, in the outside line of entrenchments and are about twelve ms from Richmond. Our Regiment came here at ten o'clock last evening. There has been little firing since then except from Sharp Shooters, tho' at about nine A.M. three Shells came over to reconnoiter our works. - only one of them did any damage to us.
This one struck a tall Pine about twenty feet from where I was and am sitting. Though it was fourteen inches through, it was cut completely off and fifty feet of the top fell this way across the pit where Co. "G" were lying It hurt no one of our Co. much, though it struck three feet from my head.
The Missiles are now coming over, semi-occasionally and striking the bushes around us. I am feeling very well, and enjoy duty, as well as usual. I got thy and Mary's letters yesterday, from Annapolis. Capt. Gult has not come back to the Division, yet.
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I have seen Horace Ballou, who is well, but have not seen or heard from Josiah Towne. Horace is with the Regsl. Quarter master, of the 2d Please direct to Mr. B. Stevens 4th Vt. Infantry, Washington D. C. Our Regt. draws rations for two hundred & thirty-six men now. Some of the wounded, and a good many exchanged and Convalescents have come back, this side of the Wilderness. Please write me soon. Love to all. Thy loving Son
W. B. Stevens
To R. B. Stevens
