Orleane Sept 2nd / 63

Writing my letter yestarday probly saved me from going to Hell or Dixie.  So 50 of our boys wer to a Surprise Party in which 14 of our Co. wer engaged.  They came to me to go but I had been busy all day on Co. business and had not finished my letters so the Lieut told me to stay and write if I wanted to.  So I did but not thinking anything would happen As we had been making Patrols on the same road to Barber Cross roads for the last week.  But White Guerrila [?] took the advantage that all such small parties throw themselves liable to be surprised and wer surprised By about 300 Rebes dismounted in the woods.  They fired a volly into our boys and then charged into our Rear to cut them off which they succeed in doing to some extent.  their force was so heavy our[s] stood no chance so they chased our boys about 5 miles.  And made the best Hell they ever got from the 6 Ohio  the Casualities wer as follows

Killed one (Ford of Co. B)

Wounded Major Cryer in the Knee severely

Sert. Frank Shafer shot through from side to side  will Probley die.  he was wounded at Aldie and went home on 30 day furlough  had just Returned to the Regt.  he lives in Houland

Sergt. Wm Barrett in Shoulder badley

Lacky of Co B. Badly wounded also

Captured in all as near as I can learn at this time about 30.  Co. G wer all taken but “Jo Bowers” (all that was out I mean)  Co. D lost 7 men  Among the Rest is Robert Lowy and Geo Hayes  Also Charles Tucker Norman Brown Pat Cox Wm. Davison L.P. White.

Later G. lost 15. B lost 9. D 7  31 total

Sergt Shafer is dead

I have got to send this out immediately as the mail goes out now  I am sory for Bob and George.  George was not very well  Ford was striped of all his clothes but shirt and drawers and left in the road as he fell  the wounded men wer robed of all the money they had

Yours in haste   ARF

Albinus R. Fell of the Ohio Volunteer Cavalary 6th Regiment Company D.

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