Elbridge Gerry Manning, Jr., class of 1861

this is what I enlisted for and having put my hand to the Plough I don't intend to turn back especialy in tihe hour of need. We have had a baptism of fire and our Regt has cast off the name of untried and now we are called "the boys who stood a bayonett charge at Nelson's Farm" being the third instance in the history of the world The first was at Watterloo where the "Old Guard" of Napoleon was annihillated and the second was at "Lundy's Lane" of Revolutionary fame where our forefathers died holding their muskets in so firm a grip that Gun & man were buried together. We had cases of that kind of our Regt where one of our men and a Rebel coming together in the charge transfixed one another upon the glittering steel. Our Surgeon tells me he dressed the wounds of Rebels who were pierced clean through from breast to back by a bayonett thrust. Tell Father if he will send an order to the Howard Bank Boston he can get 10 dollars that I sent home pay day. He won't need any check this time for there was none given out. Now please if you can send me all the things I have named in both letters and anything else you think I will need. Your Aff. Son Ellie