SIXTY-SECOND REGIMENT, N. Y. V.—(ANDERSON ZOUAVES).

Camp Seven Miles from Richmond, May 26. 

Position of the Regiment at Williamsburg—Results of the Battle—Monkey Jack—A Flag of Truce—Little Mac’s Answer. 

As it has been some time since I wrote, I thought I would let you know something of about the battle of Williamsburg. On the 5th of this month we marched about twelve miles, not thinking about fighting, by when we got to where the artillery was shelling the rebels, we waited about ten minutes, when our brigade was sent into the fight. The Fifty-fifth being on the right of the brigade, had the advance. The Ninety-eighth Pennsylvania was in a hot place. Our regiment was sent to take the place of the Fifty-fifth, who had retired from the field. It was about half-past two o’clock when we relieved them, and we kept up firing above two hours, when we got the order to cease, the guns being all silenced in Fort Magruder and their other bastions. We drove them clear beyond their forts.

The men showed great coolness in the fight. They cheered at the orders given. There were about four hundred rebels taken prisoners, including the killed and wounded. The loss of our regiment was three killed and five wounded.1 It makes persons feel queer to hear grape and shell flying around their heads; but we must get use to it, for it is all for the Union, and we can’t die but once. The rebels have been tearing up the railroad track. There was a skirmish with them yesterday, and they had to “skedaddle”. There were some of them taken prisoners and some killed, I did not learn how many—quite conceivable… 

Yours respectfully,

R. F. B., Co. A. 

Letter to the Sunday Mercury, June 1, 1862.  

Contributed by J. Tierney

John Tierney Note: The letter is signed “R. F. B., Co. A.” which, assuming that the roster of the Anderson Zouaves is complete and correct, could only be the initials of Sergeant Robert F. Beasley of Co. A.