Gabriel Theodore Harrower (1816-1895) wrote the following letter while serving as the Colonel of the 161st New York Infantry, fighting in the Department of the Gulf, and taking part in the Siege of Port Hudson. Gabriel was a native of Chenango county, the son of Benjamin Harrower (1791-1861) and Dinah Mersereau (1794-1869). He came to Lindley with his parents as a small child, attended schools there, and as he grew older became an active member of the Free Soil Party and later the Republican Party. He was sheriff of Steuben county in the early 1850s and Supervisor of the town of Lindley. In 1859, he married Helen (“Nellie”) Parkhurst and had several children. After the war he became a member of the NY State Senate.

[Note: This letter is from the personal collection of Greg Herr who offered it for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.]

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

Headquarters 161st Regt. N. Y. V.
Store Plain 2.5 miles from Port Hudson
May 22nd 1863

My dear Nell,

I received your letter last night at this place which was the scene of our first battle. We moved from our old encampment yesterday morning on this plain with about 5,000 men and three batteries of artillery. Suddenly we encountered the enemy strongly posted with artillery commanding the road. The battle began about 9 a.m. by a furious cannonade. Almost the first fire, a shell burst right over my head and the fragments flew in every direction, fortunately hitting no one. I was ordered to bring up my regiment to the front to support our batteries which occupied the road. We lay there for two long hours with shells and grape shot falling among and around us like hailstones but we could not fire a gun as we were too far off to effect anything with rifles. It was a grand and awful sight and sound, easier imagined than described. It was one continuous crash. Shrieking of shells mingled with crashing of trees.

At last the enemy gave way and retired to a second position and the battery moved up with my regiment deployed on its right to support it and soon occupied the first position of the enemy. We had scarcely got into position when they opened upon us again with renewed energy. We lay flat on the ground and as silent spectators viewed the artillery duel—for the second time. After about an hour, the celebrated Legion of Miles ¹ came out of the woods where they had been concealed and attacked three regiments on the left of where we were with great fury. Then the roar of musketry begun and raged with great fury for an hour when the 48th Massachusetts broke and fled. New York then come to the rescue. The 116th charged with the bayonet in gallant style and the Rebels broke and fled and the battle was won. And we weren’t without much to eat and no drink but swamp water. We laid ourselves down and slept on the field with arms by our side ready for the attack. I kept my faithful horse all saddled under the same tree where I slept.

Today reinforcements have come and all is quiet. Our regiment had none killed. Total killed and wounded about 150. The Rebel loss much heavier. Your letter came before I had got off my horse. I opened it and found Kittie’s hair and shed a [tear] of joy and thankfulness.

The General rode up to our regiment and paid us all a handsome compliment. Said he, never saw Regulars behave better, and was proud to know that he had such troops. I was much gratified at his remarks and was too full to make any response. Port Hudson will soon fall and I don’t believe they can give us much of a battle. So many troops are coming to our assistance. I cannot give you a particular description today but will the first opportunity.

I am well and in god spirits. The Doctor stood it pretty well. I don’t get all your letters. I can’t hear from my Mother. Won’t you write me about her. I am sorry Ross is so poorly and can but hope he will get better as the weather gets warm. Remember me to all. Tell Ritter Pa has got that pretty curl and carries it near his heart. You say Sue is better. I did not know she was sick before. Remember me in love to the children. Tell Mr. Lumpkin I will write him soon. I must close. Goodbye my dear wife. I will write soon again. Good night. Believe me as ever your faithful husband. — G. T. Harrower

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¹ Miles’ Legion was  a Confederate unit during the American Civil War, formed in 1862 in Louisiana under Colonel William R. Miles. It was a combined cavalry and infantry force that fought at the Battle of Plains Store and the Siege of Port Hudson, which was its last major engagement. The infantry battalion was captured at Port Hudson and did not reorganize, while the cavalry component continued to fight until disbanding in the spring of 1865.