The following letter was written by Chester Joseph Rouech (1843-1881), the son of Azel Nicholas Rouech, Sr. (1820-1897) and Mary Anna Derrick (1819-1896) of Bay City, Michigan. He wrote the letter to his sister, Josephine (“Josey”) Olive Rouech (1846-1925).

Chester enlisted on 14 April 1864 at Forester, Michigan, to serve as a private in Co. A, 15th Michigan Infantry. He mustered out as a corporal at Little Rock, Arkansas, on 13 August 1865. Let’s hope he was a better soldier than he was a poet.

Transcription

General Sherman’s Army
15th Michigan, 2nd Div., 15th Army Corps
1865

Attention, valiant soldiers and listen to my strain,
concerning the 2d division throughout this late campaign:
Success has crowned their efforts in every battle fray,
and in every battle fought they nobly won the day.

At Tunnel Hill and Buzzard Roost, twas there they made a charge,
and drove the rebel traitors, a force nearly twice as large;
also at the battle of Resaca, they gained a world of praise,
and they fought most heroically for two successive days.

At Altoona and Kenesaw Mountain, twas there they scaled the works,
with bayonets fixed they drove them out their strongest forts;
and at the fall of Atlanta in words I cannot tell,
the way they fought the rebels, though many of them fell.

The 116th Illinois boys do fight with earnest zeal,
and the 30th Ohioans are boys that never yield;
the gallant 6th Missourians would give your hearts delight,
to see them wading into five the rebels fight.

The 47th and 54th Ohio we know,
was never known to run when facing the rebel foe:
the 111th Illinoisians, God bless their gallant crew,
no lads will fight more braver rebellion to subdue.

The 90th Illinois boys and 40th gives proof,
that they are tigers in fighting and they never stand aloof:
The 70th Ohioians and the 15th Michigan,
have done some noble fighting throughout this great campaign.

On the 13th day of December, eighteen sixty-four,
the guns of Fort McAllister most heavily did roar
twas there this brave command most nobly fought that day,
and gained for them a name that will never fade away.

Under a galling deathly fire, they formed in solid mass,
and marched in line of battle before the cannon’s blast:
yet onward moved their column resolved to do or die,
beneath the starry banners its enemies to defy.

The rebs were and conquered in fifteen minutes time,
after orders came to charge and form in battle line:
The general knew their courage before he made the move,
for in many a battle fray, their bravery did prove.

The gallant 3d brigade were first brigade were first to reach the fort,
and plant the stars and stripes upon the enemy’s works:
the 1st and 2d brigades brought up the left and right,
beneath the rebel fire, and like tigers did they fight.

The rebels fought like fury and made a desperate stand,
yet our troops did march upon them and fought them hand to hand:
and sixty of those heroes were slain upon the field,
who fought for fame and honor and would rather die than yield.

Now peace to those brave heroes that slumber in their grave,
who fought our country’s battles our government to save:
their names will glory in history to read in coming years,
as a brave and glorious division of the western volunteers.

Now to you, brave soldiers, a farewell word I give,
May your efforts be successful as long as you may live:
and when this war is over, we’ll join our friends at home,
in fancy dream o’er past events, our memories will roam.

This is a song concerning our division and brigade. You learn it by the time I get home so I can hear you sing it.

To sister Josey Rouech from C. J. Rouech