Here I am with a
bullet hole in my arm made there the
2^nd day of July at Gettysburg. I believe
I have not written since leaving Falmouth
but I cannot now give you an accounting of all
our long weary marches thru Va & up thru
Maryland. The 25^th June we were at
Thorofare Gap Va. from there we made
forced marches to Gettysburg. One day
we marched over 30 miles.
We got to Gettysburg the evening of July
1^st there had been fighting that day
between the 1^st & 11^th Corps. The next
morning we took our position in the
center till 3 oclock P.M. nothing
happened to disturb the quiet except
occasional picket firing. At 3 o’clock

the 3rd Corps went forward on our left
& the fight soon commenced. We
remained inactive till 4 ½ o’clock &
then moved over to the left of the 3^rd corps
& went in. soon found the rebels in the
oak woods & the work became hot, we
drove them at first but they had the
advantage of position & we had to
pull back some. They picked off
our men very fast from behind trees
& rocks. After fighting about an hour
we were relieved by another brigade
just before we were relieved I was
hit in my right arm the ball entering
close to the shoulder & about 2 in from the
old place passed outside the bone &
coming out on the backside it is
not a [---?] wound at all. & has given
me very little trouble thus far. It will
probably take two months to heal.
Co.K. went into the fight with 13 men
& had 2 killed & 7 wounded. We were
color Co. & suffered worse on that account

one of our men was killed with the
colors in his hands. Gilman Johnson
came out unharmed. he is a lucky
boy. The whole regt suffered severely,
losing over 90 out of 160. but it greatest
loss is Col. Cross. He was shot thru the
bowels & died that night. he had been
in command of the brigade & would have
been a Brig. Gen. in a few days it is the
greatest blow the old 5^th ever got.
The greatest fight was Friday but of
that I know nothing. I staid at the Hos.
Then till Monday & then walked 7 miles
to Littletown & took the cars. we all
night on the road arriving in Baltimore
Tuesday morning. Here we got breakfast
& had our wounds cleaned and took the cars
to Philadelphia. Got supper. & in the eve
took the cars for this place. Chesnut Hill
is a very pretty place & it is a splendid
Hos. There are over 2000 patients here.
It is 9 miles from the city. A R.R. to the city
passes close to it. No furloughs are

granted from here. it seems to be
my luck every time to get into such
a place. However I rather think I
shall spend at least 30 days at home
before I go back. I shall stay here
2 or 3 weeks perhaps & then take leave
go home report to the regt where I am
& when my wound is well go to the regt.
I wrote to Mother yesterday.
I have not rec a letter or paper or heard
one word from N.H. for 4 weeks. We
got no mail after leaving Falmouth.
Write soon right away. I am very
anxious to hear from you.
My arm plagues me some about writing
& it makes it ache.
Give my love to all. Direct your letters to
U.S.A. Hospital Ward 44
Chesnut Hill Philadelphia, Pa
Geo S. Gove