.NDU2.NTk3

all along the lines, our brigade being held as a reserve for the left. At 3 O clock we were ordered forward, to within about three hundred yds. where we lay for an hour behind logs or anything else to protect us fireing whenever we could see our man, here at the commensment Sam Mathews was shot in the back of the head, he was seen to be carried off the field, and was pronounced by the Surgeon as mortaly wounded. After this untill yesterday noon could hear nothing of him then he was found on a hospital boat, but not one that has the wounded on board he was alive, but his case is considered hopeless. A bayonet charge had been [begin vertical writing] I have almost been tempted to pay the Sutter $10.00 for a pair of $5.00 boots since I have been in Ark. mud [vertical writing end]