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Soon after George L. Berry joined the 5th Maine Infantry Regiment, he was in the First battle of Mannassas.
He described that to fight the Confederates, his company lied down, reloaded, stood up, and fired at the enemy. -
After the battle at Manassas, Berry writes to his younger brother, Cy, while he is stationed at Camp Alexandria, Virginia. only about 3 miles south of Washington D.C. He writes about his anger at the Commanding Officers, and how they ordered the regiment to retreat from Manassas. He also mentions that there was a larger cost of lives in his regiment than newspapers are saying. While newspapers say there are 340 dead or missing, according to Berry, there are actualy 1,500 dead or missing.
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According to George Berry's letter, at this time, he had become sick with Pleurisy Fever. He also complains that his regiment had not been given enough clothing, and that his brother should send some.
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Berry and the 5th Maine Infantry Regiment make a new camp called Camp Vernon near Alexandria, Virginia
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Although that his correspondence before this operation was short, Berry Mentions that he and his company were about to march to a Confederate artilery battery, that had been hidden. There orders were to either capture or destroy the artilery peices.
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At this time in Berry's stationing in Camp Vernon, his regiment got into a small engagement. While the 5th Maine's Cavalry company was out foraging for food, they stumbled upon a Confederate artilery battery, along with about 500 cavalry. While the 5th's Cavalry retreated, the rest of the regiment waited for the enemy cavalry to come. Once the confederate cavalry came, there was a small battle, ending in a confederate retreat, and only a total of 3 deaths.
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Berry and the 5th Maine Infantry Regiment march, and move to Camp Franklin, Virgina. Just west of Norfolk.
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During his letter to his brother, Cyrus, George Berry mentions that he thinks that there will be a major operation in the next few days, since he has heard nonstop cannon fire all night. He belives that the fire is coming from a naval battle on the Potomac River
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While in Mechanicsville, on the northern limit of Richmond, Berry mentions that while on guard duty, his station was so close to the Confederate lines, that he could hear the rebel soldiers talking to eachother.
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From what George Berry had said in his letters home, he was involved in the Seven Days Battle. In his letter, he mentions that the Lieutenant Cololnel and the Colonel of his regiment were killed, and that his company had lost 80 men.
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White Oak Museum Berry and his regiment move to a camp near White Oak Church, in central Virginia
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While based at White Oak, General Burnside had his regiment try to march for 25 miles in 6 inch deep mud, only to have to march back to White Oak
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In this letter to his brother, Berry complains about the ammout of snow that they are getting, and how it interfeirs with their camp.
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In a letter that he recieved, George Berry learns that his two brothers, Frank and Cyrus, had been drafted into the army, and would be joining him in his regiment
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In a letter home, Berry describes his thougths on battles. He describes them vividly, saying "I expect to hear the booming of cannon, and the rattle of Musketry. Battle is a solemn thing to witness, knowing as we do that every hour many are killed and wounded and are in the most excrutiating pain. They often have to lay upon the battlefields 3 and 4 days at a time. I have been through two hard fought battles and come out unharmed. Still, I may be the first to fall in the next".
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Along with vividly describing battles, Berry mentions that he and his regiment will be moving to the front lines to help in the capture of New Orelans
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While in New Oreleans, Berry begins working in a Soldier Redistribution Center. He is in living conditions much better than those that he had before. In his letter, he hoped that his deployment will end soon
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At this point, Berry's regiment had gone to Jessups Cut, Virginia, where 150,000 troops have crossed into virginia. He feels that there will be a battle soon
