The following letter sharing his recollections of the 2nd Battle of Manassas was written in 1914 by Benjamin Harrison Daughtry (1841-1919). Benjamin wrote the letter to Oliver Perry Carswell, the younger brother of James (“Jimmie”) W. Carswell who served with Benjamin in Co. K, 12th Georgia Infantry. We learn from the letter that after Jimmie was wounded in the fierce fighting of railroad cut on the evening of August 28, 1862, he was carried to the rear where Benjamin found him the next day still lingering from his wounds but died later later in the day. With much detail, Benjamin wrote of how he cared for Jimmie and laid him in his grave, declaring him “one of the best, truest, bravest boys I ever knew.”

Benjamin’s military record shows that he joined the Marion Guards (Co. K) with Jimmy in June 1861 and that he remained in the regiment through at least the Battle of the Wilderness where he was wounded on 5 May 1864.

To read the 24 letters written by James (“Jimmy”) W. Carswell of Co. K, 12th Georgia Infantry, go to: 1861-62: James W. Carswell to his Parents.

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

Chillicothe, Texas
February 5th 1914

Mr. O[liver] P[erry] Carswell, Carthage, Texas

My dear old friend, it is with pleasure I acknowledge the receipt of your interesting letter. I was expecting it as I had a letter two days ago from J. B. Tulford of Shellman, Georgia—my wife’s brother—telling me that you had written him for my address. I am truly glad to renew old acquaintance with you, and as I was the last one of your brother’s many friends to administer to his comfort and perform the last sad rites for him, what little I have to say will I know be very interesting to you. What I write will be from memory as I have no notes.

If I am not mistaken, your brother Jimmie was wounded on the eve of the 28th of August 1862. We were in the railroad cut fighting with guns, bayonets, rocks, and anything that we could kill a Yankee with. I did not see him when he fell. He was sent to the rear, and on the morn of the 29th I was detailed to care for the wounded of our company. I found him lying on the ground with his blanket under him. I did all I could for him but could get nothing to make a bed for him that day. I think he lived about 24 hours after he was wounded. I could not leave him until my Captain came to stay with him. I left him and went about a half mile to get some hay to make a bed for him and when I returned his sufferings were over. With the best tools at my command—an old axe and a broken grubbing hoe—I dug his grave on the south side of a large apple tree in Col. Buckner’s orchard. I lined the grave with my tent, wrapped his blanketaround him, spread my blanket over him, placed his hat over his face, then lapped the tent carefully over the blanket and covered him, one of the best, truest, bravest boys I ever knew.

I do not remember anything he said after I got to him. I talked with your father after I got home from the war and if there was any words for dear ones at home, I am sure I told him. But after all three years, I forget. I told your father I would go with him to Virginia and I was sure I could identify the grave, but he did not come back and four years after the war closed, I came to Texas and I suppose your family lost sight of me, and I did not know what part of Texas you boys were in.

I will also state Jimmie was wounded on the 1st day of the general engagement, 2nd Manassas Battle. Our division had been in a fight on the 27th and captured and burned all the commissary stores of the enemy. I hope you will get some pleasure out of these scattering recollections of mine as I jot them down. Can’t tell you what a pleasure it was to hear from you, and would be glad to see you and talk to you. I am an old man, 73 years old, but have fairly good health. Went to the reunion at Macon, Georgia, two years [ago] in May. Did not see a single one of old Co. K. There was two living but did not get to see them. In company with Thomson Peacock, rode all over the old Peach farm and passed by the old McCall school house, It is used as a tenant house now.

After we left Macon, we visited our old Buena Vista friends and renewed old friendships. It was the first time I had been in Georgia in 40 years. I was anxious to go to Gettysburg last year but was not physically able to make the trip. Now in closing, will say if there is anything I have failed to tell you, let me know and I will to the best of my recollections. If you should visit your brother at Decatur, it is only a few hours run up to Chillicothe [and] would be glad to see you. Your friend, — B. H. Doughtry

No, I do not take Tom Watson’s paper, but want to get those letters when you have them published. Please send me the address so I can get the paper. — B. H. D.