The following letter was written by Sgt. Horatio Cornell of Co. H, 3rd Delaware Infantry. It describes the actions of his regiment during the Second Battle of Weldon Railroad (otherwise known as “Yellow Tavern” or “Blick’s Station). In this engagement, the 5th Corps was attacked on 19 August 1864 by five infantry brigades under Maj. Gen. William Mahone, rolling up the Union right. The next day, after being reinforced, the Union counterattack by Major Gen. G. K. Warren, regained the ground lost. In the third day’s action, neither side gained any advantage and the Confederates were forced to withdraw with the result that the Weldon Railroad—a supply line for the beleaguered city of Petersburg was cut off.

In his letter, Hiram mentions that his comrade and tent mate in Co. H, Sgt. John Shilling, captured a battle flag during the action on 21 August 1864 in the battle of Weldon Railroad. He was later awarded the Medal of Honor for this achievement. Shilling (1832-1884), a native of England, resided in Felton, Kent county, Delaware, at the time of his enlistment.

Horatio mustered into the 3rd Delaware Infantry, Co. H, on 17 May 1862 as a sergeant and was present for duty throughout his service, reenlisting as a Veteran in March 1864. He mustered out of the service on 3 June 1865 at Arlington Heights, Virginia. He wrote the letter to his uncle, George B. Titus (1822-1908), a farmer living in Lewisville, Chester county, Pennsylvania.

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

Weldon Railroad
August 28th 1864

Dear Uncle,

I received your letter some two weeks ago but have not had time to answer your letter before this for we have been marching and fighting ever since—hardly any sleep or time to eat a peaceful meal, I am nearly worn out. I am so weak that I can scarcely travel at all but am getting a little stronger than I have been as the Rebels appear to have got enough of attacking us. The Rebels made three attacks on the 5th Corps on Friday and Saturday and Sunday week. We—our Brigade [2nd Brigade, 4th Division, V Corps]—slaughtered them on this day week that they have not tried our Corps since. We piled them up. I was on the skirmish line and they attacked us about daylight and we fought them about five hours but during Saturday night, our Brigade fell back and took up a position on the left flank and they left the skirmish line without higher support. And when we had fought until every man was tired and we was ordered to fall back, we had to run about half a mile through a terrible shower of shot and shell—the most terrific that I have experienced since I have been down here.

While we was on the skirmish line fighting, the Rebels made a break on the left flank on the Brigade behind works. The Brigade slaughtered them badly. Our regiment captured two [battle] flags. Shilling captured one of them. Our company has to mourn over the loss of four men. Sgt. [James E.] Trazzard, one of our men, was missing in the fore part of the fight. ¹ The Rebels must have lost at leave five to our one.

This day week I am told by one of the men that our men picked up two thousand stand of arms in front of our skirmish line since the Rebels had evacuated it. There is heavy firing on the right of the line this morning. I suppose that the Rebels are trying to break our lines as they have failed to drive us from the Weldon [Rail] Road.

I suppose that you are picking peaches now and enjoying yourself. I wish you could see us down here. I do not wish you was a soldier—especially if you seen as hard times as we do. I lost everything on Sunday’s fight. I have thing but half of a [tent] shelter, no blanket or nothing to cover myself at night except as Shilling shares at night with me.

Saturday week we fought in entrenchments half knee’s deep in water.

I will bring my letter to a close by sending my love to you all. Write soon. From your nephew, — H. Cornell

[to] George B. Titus

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¹ Sgt. James E. Trazzard (1832-1864) was from Kent county, Delaware. He was captured near Petersburg, Virginia on August 19, 1864. Sent to be confined in Richmond, Virginia on August 22, 1864. He was later transferred to Salisbury, North Carolina on October 9, 1864. He died there on 6 December 1864.