James Rumbaugh wrote this letter while serving in Co. F, 76th Pennsylvania Infantry (a.k.a., the “Keystone Zouaves”). He was drafted into the regiment on 13 July 1863 as a private and was discharged on 23 May 1865.
James was wounded on 7 May 1864 when participating in Butler’s operations on the south side of the James River near Petersburg. According to the regimental history, the brigade in which the regiment was placed, commanded by Col. Barton, embarked upon transports, and headed as if for an expedition to West Point and White House; but suddenly changing direction proceeded down the York, and up the James, landing at Bermuda Hundred. It moved towards the Petersburg and Weldon Railroad, destroying several miles of the track, under heavy fire. The rebels were forced back to Drury’s Bluff, where they were reinforced, and the object of the reconnoissance being accomplished, the brigade was withdrawn. The Seventy-sixth lost sixty-five in killed, wounded and missing.
James wrote to David Henri Dunmire (1844-1901) of Armstrong county, Pennsylvania. He was the son of David and Sarah (Heffelfinger) Dormire.
TRANSCRIPTION
General Hospital
Hampton, Virginia
June 3, 1864
Mr. Henry Dunmire,
I seat myself to answer your letter which I received this morning and I was truly glad to hear from you to hear that you was well. I hope that these few lines will find you still in good health.
I have good health but on the 7th of last month I got wounded through the left leg just above the knee. It is mending slowly. I am not able to get out yet, I got wounded near Petersburg. They were fighting all day and Friday and our brigade didn’t get into it till Saturday and we went in about 11 o’clock and I got wounded about 3 and our brigade fought till 5 o’clock in the evening and then firing ceased. We tore up about 40 rods of the [Petersburg & Weldon] Railroad. It was a hot time for a while. We had a crick to cross and it was about 6 foot wide and about 5 foot deep. There was about 3 foot of water in it and when we jumped into it, the Rebs opened on us and they just piled the crick full of us. We got out of that as quick as possible. The Rebs was in rifle pits at the foot of a hill and had their big guns on the top of the hill and they played right down on us.
They may talk as they damn please about the Rebs losing so many more men than us but I can tell you it’s not the case. I wasn’t so damn bad excited but what I took notice what was going on. If you was at this hospital, you could see some of them. They are shipping them away from the hospital as fast as they get able to and it just fills up as fast as they leave. They are dying very fast too. I will tell you a few things if I ever get home and I have no other idea but I will.
When I get home, I will tell you something about gathering mountain tea and I will throw that anvil away. But my jumping is played out I guess. I guess I can kick the pole yet. Well, Henry, I must close for the present. I will write more the next time. I have to sit on the bed and write this so please answer this as soon as you get it. Tell me when you heard from William. I wrote two letters to him and have got no answer yet. So I will close by sending my best respects to you.
So goodbye/ Write soon. — James Rumbaugh