Long Road Home
Arriving in the Appomatox area on the on 11 April and finding a good site on high ground established camp.  Reporting for duty were:
Capt./ Corp. J. Fattaleh
Pvt. Al Dunning
Pvt. Doug Dinkle
Pvt. Ken Meador
Pat Fattaleh ( Seamtress)
Brooke Herndon
Attended officer meeting were we were assigined to 5th. Company. Also received greetings from Jackson Corp. as they were glad to have brothers from Wise's Leigion here.
Saturday forming up with 5th. company fought 2 battles, Battle of Namozine Church and Battle at Almiela Springs.  Tried and hungry we fought like tigers untill we ran into a federal cannon that fired directly into our attack.
Sunday fighting at Salyor Creek with General Ewell, we became involved in hand to hand fighting with the yanks. After dispaching many with rifle, bayonet, and fists more blue coats came charging off there guns and into us. Heavey were our casulities.
I hear that trains are comming out of Richmond, hope the have food & blankets onboared.
At your service
Capt. J. Ryan (Fattaleh)
45th. Virginia

April 1864 (2014)

Cloyd's Mountain,
Ariving with Al , Doug, Pat, & Brooke of the 45th. Virginia, we fell in with the 36th. Va. were I served as the 1st. Corporal.

After a meal of Beef and Bean Stew the wind picked up and pulled the fly stakes out.  They were reset in and out a few more times untill we took the fly down due to the winds becoming even stronger. The wind and rain did die down by Saturday morning and we had good weather the rest of the engagment.

After ariving at the battle field we took positions behind thrown up brestworks. We were attacked first my federal companys on are left and front. We gave them devasting volloys. Then out of the woods and to our right came this huge blue snake pouring on to the field. Our fire slowed them little but we were soon over run, taking causualties and losing the Dublin Depot.

The ladies had camp broke in fine order and we have fallen back to the Salem area.

Capt/Corporal. J. Ryan (Fattaleh)