Civil War Letter from Pvt. Joseph Young, 33rd Pennsylvania Infantry

Letter from Pvt. Joseph Young, 33rd Pennsylvania Infantry (4th Pennsylvania Reserves), to his wife Ann, written from camp along the James River on July 9, 1862, shortly after the Seven Days Battles. In it, Young describes the heavy fighting at Mechanicsville, Gaines’ Mill, and Glendale, notes the severe losses in his regiment, the capture of division commander Gen. George McCall, the wounding of Gen. George Meade, and expresses hope that “our Young General” (George B. McClellan) would soon bring the war to a successful close.
 
Transcription:
 
Camp on James River  
July 9th, 1862  
 
Dear Sister,  
 
I received your ever welcomed letter sometime since and was muched please to hear from you that you where enjoying good health, as it found us all enjoying the same blessing.  
 
I can inform you that we have seen some pretty hard times these few last weeks but however I have come out safe. We have had three or four hard battles inside of a week and we where in three of them. Our company is pretty badly cut up, and regiment also. Steve Kirkner, Bill Woods and several others where wounded and taken prisoners. We are now laying over recruiting up a little but I do not think we will be taken into any more battles for some time as our Maj Gen McCall just taken prisoner and also Gen Meade is wounded and many other officers are wounded so our division is lacking in want of officers & Men also. It is reported that our division is going to Fortress Monroe but I will not believe that until we get there.  
 
We are now encamped along the James River at Harris Landing about twenty miles from Richmond. I cannot inform you how soon we will move from here. But I do not think we will stay here longer than a week but we all think that our Young General is going to put this work right through now at once. I hope so any how. Mooney Cruger Rappend and all the Boys are well and sends their respects.  
 
I was glad to hear of our Sally getting married and now I supposed old Conrad is just living up to still.  
 
There is a great many troops in camp all around here. I seen Dave Auld yesterday he is in the Lancers. He is well.  
 
I would like to take that dinner as soon as it suits you for I can assure you that we get very low onions here and a few stumps also would be of great help to me at present.  
 
I must now conclude as I am in a hurry. Give my love to all and keep the largest for yourself.  
 
In conclusion I remain as ever  
Your Loving Husband  
Joseph Young  
Miss Ann Young