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21st New York Infantry, Battle of 1st Bull Run

1861: William Elmer Thorp to his Parents

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The following letters were written by William Elmer Thorp (1841-1912), the son of Alfred Thorp (1815-1895) and Frances Relf (1817-1903) of Sherman, Chautauqua, New York. According to muster rolls, William enlisted in May 1861 at Elmira in Co. D, 21st New York Infantry. He was wounded in action at the Battle of Antietam on 17 September 1862 but survived and mustered out with his company in May 1863 after two years service.

[Note: These letters are housed in the Special Collection of the University of Iowa Library and have been digitized but have not been transcribed and made available on the internet.]

To read other letters by members of the 21st New York Infantry that have been transcribed and published on Spared & Shared, see:
William Fox, Co. C, 21st New York (1 Letter)
Peter Cozzens Doyle, Co. H, 21st New York (13 Letters)
Ansel W. Dumphrey, Co. H, 21st New York (2 Letters)

Letter 1

Addressed to A. Thorp, Mina, New York

Elmira, New York
May 12th 1861

Dear Parents,

You are no doubt expecting a letter from me and I take this opportunity of writing to you. I am now in Elmira as you see by the heading of this letter. The morning after I left you, I went to Mr. Sheldon’s and found were gone to Buffalo to enlist and that George Patterson was giving passes to volunteers so I went down to Westfield, got a pass, went to Buffalo & found the boys there. We looked all around town and looked at all the companies and finally joined Co. D—called so at present, but the name will probably be changed. We call it so because almost all the men are what used to form Co. D, 74th Regiment. It is called one of the best companies in Buffalo.

We had orders to march yesterday and started about 5 o’clock p.m. The whole of the old military companies and Fire Department of Buffalo turned out to escort us down to the depot but you will see the account in the Express probably. I will only say Main Street was decorated in splendid style, flags flying from every window, handkerchiefs waving, cannon roaring, bells ringing, and bands playing, making one of the grandest sights I ever beheld.

We arrived at Elmira at about 7 o’clock this morning and were greeted at every station and house along the road with tremendous cheers and waving flags or handkerchiefs and sometimes with cannon. People were in crowds at every place along the roads where we stopped. We are quartered for the present at a hall in this place and the other companies in different parts of the town.

I must not forget to tell you that Ira J. Sheldon and myself went down to the [Niagara] Falls one day and had a very pleasant trip. We went under the Falls on both sides and up to Lundy’s Lane Battleground. There is a large observatory there now and an old soldier who was in the fight went up with us and gave us a full description of the battle. Send this sheet of music over to Emma Pelton and tell her she must learn to play it for it is all the go now-a-days. I don’t think of any more news to write at present. Direct here to care of Capt. Wm. C. Alberger. He is my captain and a first rate one too.

Your son, — Wm. E. Thorp

Tell Jim and Billy and all the rest of the Boys to write to me and not wait for me to write first.

Letter 2

Camp Kalorama
Washington D. C.
July 12, 1861

Dear Parents,

As you wished me to write often, I am now seated to drop a few lines to you although I do not know as there is any more news in particular for me to tell you and I write this time with ink although it is sometimes very hard to get it when we are on the march. But as we have now been in camp here some time, we can get it but do not know whether we can fix it so that we can carry it but we shall try to do so.

Lewis wrote home the other day (he is one of the boys from Sherman) that we were going to march into Virginia last Wednesday and I did not know but you had heard of it. We had such orders but they were countermanded I suppose on account of our guns as the guns we then had were poor ones being old flint locks altered. But yesterday we marched down to the Arsenal and changed them for guns made at Harpers Ferry in 1852 and are very good guns but I don’t know now as we shall be able to get off as E. G. Spalding and some others are trying to get us for the National Guards and if they do, we shall have to stay here around the cuty. But us boys do not like that.

You know I wrote to you about what I should do at the end of the three months. Well some say we are in for two years anyway—that the state can turn us over to the United States for the whole time. We were sworn into the state service and some say they cannot so I don’t know how it will be (nor do not care much).

Felix [Mayburn] has been sick and the Captain is making out his discharge today so I presume he will be at home before a great while. He talks some of going by water to New York City and then home and I shall probably send some letters by him.

You wanted to know whether I wanted anything you could send me. There is nothing I now think of unless it is stamps which are rather hard to get hold of here now as we are not allowed to go out of camp and the franked ones we cannot get only once and a while. But if I can get out of camp, I am going to try to get R. E. Fenton to frank some for me.

The othre day I met a classmate from Oberlin who was in my class three. He is now a clerk in the patent office and we had a very good visit. He invited me to call on him when I come down to the city again and see him. I wrote a quite a number of letters to Mina the other day and suppose you have got them and answered them before this.

The Sheldon boys are all well and both on guard today. I suppose I shall be on tomorrow unless there are a quite a number absent from roll call. If there are, they will be put on as extra duty. We have now 12 men on guard from each company making 120 on guard every day. I am quite well at presemt and hope you are all the same.

You will excuse poor writing as my knee has to serve as a desk and I am in a hurry for supper is nearly ready. With best respects and love to all. I remain your affectionate son, — Wm. E. Thorp

A. Thorp
F. Thorp

Letter 3

Fort Runyon
Washington D. C.
July 15th 1861

Dear Parents,

I wrote a letter to you day before yesterday but forgot to put it in the post office so of course it has not gone but I will write this and put it in with it and send it now. Since writing the other there has been a little change in our camp. Yesterday we got orders to start and come to this fort which is just at the end of the Long Bridge and is nothing but an earthwork but it is a good one and well laid out.

I think we shall probably stay here until our time is up to guard this fort and finish the rest of it as it is not yet quite finished on the side next to the river. We have a fine view of the Potomac from our camp and the canal runs about a quarter of a mile from our camp on the other side and we can see any quantity of camps from the breastworks and Fort Corcoran on the higher hill beyond us.

Some of the boys like the plan of stopping here but the most of them are for going on and get where we can do some of the fighting. Felix starts for home today. I believe he did not come across the river with us.

I received the paper Uncle George sent and was glad to get it. Please send one as often as you can as we all like to read it as it keeps us posted on what is going on at home.

You may direct the same as before. Yours on, — W. E. Thorp

Letter 4

Addressed to James M. Coveny, Mima, New York

Fort Runyon, Virginia
24th July 1861

Dear Cousin,

I received your kind letter on the 21st and should have answered it before but the truth of the business is I have been out on picket guard about six or seven miles out towards Fairfax Court House and as it may be interesting to you, I will give you a brief account of it. On Monday morning our troops came pouring into this fort after our defeat at Manassas Junction as thick as they could come. We did the best we could for them, giving them all of our rations both of bread and of coffee and I can tell you, Jim, it was a bad defeat—a perfect rout.

I will give you a short account of the battle as near as I can learn from those who were engaged in it. About two o’clock on last Sunday morning, our troops were called up and fell into ranks and formed their line of battle when they advanced on the enemy at Bulls Run about four miles this side of Manassas Junction. The rebels retreated and our troops followed on when the rebels opened on them with masked batteries, before this unknown to our men, and cut them up badly when some of them run when the New York Zouaves (Ellsworth’s) were charged upon by the Black Horse Cavalry but they stood the charge nobly, drove them back, and killed about two-thirds of them and forced them to retreat. Some of the southern regiments would march out amidst the smoke with the American flag flying, then our men would think they were firing into their own friends, would stop firing, when the rebels would open fire on them and all such tricks as that. But I must hurry along.

We took three of their batteries twice but were driven back by other batteries in the rear. At length, after fighting five hours, our men were obliged to retreat. Some of the regiments behaved nobly and fought well amongst which were the New York Fire Zouaves (Ellsworth’s), New York 69th which is the Irish regiment, the 79th which is the Scotch Highlander Regiment, and the 27th—all from New York. Also the Maine 2nd, I believe, and some of the Massachusetts & Wisconsin regiments and one regiment from Michigan. The New York 12th, they say, run like the devil.

But I have now told you about all I can about the battle from the accounts given me by the soldiers who came back to here. They came in very irregular, every man for himself without regard to any company or regiment and indeed a great many did not know where their officers were and some said their officers did not go in with them at all. And Jim, to express my candid opinion, it was all owing to our men having poor officers that we got licked so bad although we only had 45,000 men according to the best accounts I can get while the enemy had about 80,000 at the least.

But I will return to my going out on the picket guard. About 8 o’clock on Monday it commenced to rain and it kept raining until about midnight on Monday night, but about 11 or half past eleven, we got orders for our regiment to send out two companies of picket guards and companies C and D were chosen by the colonel for that purpose. So we got ready, each man taking his overcoat, blanket, haversack, canteen, two days rations, &c. of course his gun, cartridge box, &c. and started although the rain kept coming down and went over to the camp of the New Jersey 4th regiment and were joined by a couple of companies from there and marched out towards Fairfax about 6 or 7 miles to Bailey’s Crossroads where we stoped, throwed out pickets and our company took quarters in an old blacksmith shop for the night, some 60 of us in all. But by putting some boards up overhead and part of us sleeping up there, we got along very comfortable.

In the morning after taking our breakfast which was simply a few hard sea biscuits and a cup of coffee, we had orders to march back about a mile and a half to where we crossed the railroad and guard the railroad from the road to Roaches Mill-a distance of a mile and a half. So we were placed along six in a place to keep watch, two to watch and the others to relieve them once in two hours so that each two stood guard two hours and rested four—the same as in camp. The six I was in was Dan and Ira J. Sheldon, F. C. Lewis, and Wm. Porter, all Sherman boys (and Porter is the fellow who stood on the swivel at Sherman the day you soldiered it there) and Jas. Howson, a Fredonia boy. We built us a bower to keep out the weather, watched the track, and picked blackberries which were very thick and the largest I ever saw (if Virginia can beat us on anything, it must be blackberries).

Well, about five we got word that the enemy were within ten miles of us and that their cavalry were coming towards us so we rallied those who were outside of us and all had to stay together that last night. This morning we went down to where the captain and the rest of them staid and found them with one section of a battery of field pieces (which is two cannon). The battery was covered with bushes right side of the road and put so as to rake the road for some distance. We then went to work and fell trees and made a breastwork to defend us against cavalry and then the New York 24th Regiment came up and our two companies were ordered back to camp while they took our place. So here we are all sound.

But my sheet is nearly full so I will close with best respects and love to all. Your cousin, — W. E. Thorp

to J. M. Coveny

1st new York Light artillery

1861: Nelson A. Daines to Becky & Emery

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Nelson Daines

The following letter was written by Nelson A. Daines [or Danes] who enlisted as an artificer in Battery E, 1st New York Light Artillery on 12 September 1861. He reenlisted on 28 December 1863 and transferred to Battery L. He mustered out of the battery on 17 June 1865 at Elmira, New York.

According to on-line genealogical records, Nelson was the son of Simeon Daines and Catherine Boulongee. He was married to Rebecca Torrence. He died in Towlesville, Steuben county, New York in 1875.

According to his enlistment record, Nelson was born in Yates county, New York, and was a 42 year-old blacksmith when he entered the service in 1861. He had dark eyes, dark hair, a dark complexion, and stood 6 foot 2 inches.

Nelson’s service record indicates that he was present with his battery at the following engagements: Lee’s Mills, Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Seven Days, 2nd Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Thoroughfare Gap, Mine Run, Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Weldon Railroad. He claimed he “was never sick one hour” and that he never spent any time in a hospital unless it was “to look after sick & wounded boys.”

See also—1862: Nelson A. Daines to Rebecca Daines posted in 2017 on Spared & Shared 10.

Transcription

Washington D. C.
December 16, 1861

Becky & Emery,

I was waiting very patiently to get your letter. I received it last week—your letter dated the 9th—and was very [glad] to hear from you. The most of the camp sent by express the 1st of January. I shall send more. It relieves my mind very much. It would be the great pleasure to me to see you & Emery. My health is very good. We have enough to eat. You wanted to know my business. We have 94 horses. I am artificer in our battery. I boss blacksmith & boss of the battery wagon. Charles [B.] Mills is my helper in sharing. My first helper [Simeon] Kring died. 1 Charles’ health is good & Richard Williams is good. It would please me very much to be at Towlesville.

I don’t think we shall move from here very soon. We have some fighting but our arms are successful. Some of our regiment has moved. My shop is outdoors. We drawed with teams over brush [ ] feet high [and ] made a shop one and a half mile east of the hospital. I have no one to order me but I have a right to order. I am my own boss.

Direct your letters as before. I did not get your letter in time to write last week. When you get this, write immediately. In January I shall send more money than I did before but keep it & use as you want. I feel sorry for Mrs. Bauter but she don’t stand so high with me as she once did. She is now left a widow and that is bad. If she had been to home about her own business, I would probably have been to home about mine. I may yet see home & I may not. War is dangerous to all that’s in it. But remember if I fall, I shall sell my life as dear as possible. I will stand by the old flag. She shall not trail in the dust though Devils try to do it.

No more at present. Goodbye. Your husband, — Nelson Daines

Give my respects to my friends.

1 Simeon Kring was 24 years old when he enlisted at Bath, New York, to served in Battery E, 1st New York Light Artillery. He died of disease on 22 November 1861 at United States General Hospital in Elmira, New York.

7th Wisconsin Infantry, Arlington House

1862: Robert M. Work to friend Susan

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An unidentified member of the 7th Wisconsin (Marc & Beth Storch Collection)

The following letter was written by Robert M. Work (1836-1914), who moved from Crawford county, Pennsylvania, to Centralia, Wood county, Wisconsin prior to the 1860 US Census where he worked as a day laborer in the Edwards & Clinton’s Mill. He was married to Margaret F. Morgan on 3 January 1865 in Wood county.

According to the 1890 Veterans Schedule, Robert enlisted in Co. G, 7th Wisconsin Infantry on 29 August 1861 and was mustered out of the regiment three years later on 29 August 1864. Suffering from chronic diarrhea, the latter part of his time in the service was in Co. A, 23rd Veteran Reserve Corps.

The 7th Wisconsin reached Washington on the 26th of September 1861 and joined King’s Brigade, at Camp Lyon, on the 2nd of October. They were brigaded with the Second and Sixth Wisconsin and the Nineteenth Indiana Regiments—four regiments that would earn the nickname “the Iron Brigade” in August 1862. They marched from Camp Lyon by way of the Georgetown Aqueduct on 5 October to a new camp at Fort Tillinghast near the Arlington House where they remained until March 10, 1862. It was from this location that Robert wrote his letter.

Gen. Irvin McDowell and staff, Arlington House 1862.

Transcription

Camp Arlington
February 23, 1862

Absent friend Susan,

I embrace the present opportunity this Sunday morning to converse with you a short time on paper as circumstances prevents us from being together to converse other ways.

I received a very pretty little envelope or rather a couple of them three days since. One was a letter from you and the other was a piece of paper wit ha very nice picture and flower and some very sweet verses written on it but no name signed to it. But it was sent about Valentine’s Day which I suppose accounts for it. I think that it was some pretty girl that sent it and I guess one about your size. I would of answered your letter sooner but I sent one to you the same day that I received yours. I sent one in the morning and received yours in the evening. Your letter found me enjoying good health and I hope that this may find you enjoying the same blessing as it leaves me at present.

I sent you two more papers last week and will send you one of Harpers with this. I sent you my likeness in the letter that I sent to you and John which I suppose that you have received it before this time. I would like to get yours but I suppose that you can’t get it taken but I hope that this war will soon be over so that I can get back and see the original. Sometimes I think that it will soon be ended and other times that it is going to take longer to put down this rebellion that we think for but our troops are doing great execution in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Missouri which according to the statement of the papers, they have the rebels pretty much drove out of those states.

Well, one thing is that we are getting them pretty well surrounded and another that our troops come out victoriously every attack that is made so that it is considerable encouragement. I think that we will get a chance at them if ever this infernal mud dries up. But it don’t look much like drying up very soon for it has rained more or less every day for a week and there is no end to the mud.

Yesterday was a great day here. It was General Washington’s birthday. They made everything shake here all forenoon firing their big cannons in the forts. We are camped in between two forts and there is several other forts not over a half or three quarters of a mile of [us] and they kept up a perfect roar all forenoon. We was called out at half past ten o’clock and we marched down to the Arlington House about a half a mile from here. It is the house where Washington was married. It is used now for General King’s Headquarters, our Brigadier General. The man that owns the house now, his name is Lee. He is a general in the rebel army. I guess that Uncle Sam holds a claim on it now. It is a very pretty house and a nice place. One can see all over Washington and Georgetown and up and down the Potomac for a good ways. It is located on the bank of the Potomac and on a high piece of land.

Well we went down there and they read Washington’s farewell address and delivered a couple of speeches and the bands played a while and then the whole brigade (four regiments) deployed out and fired ten rounds of blank cartridges. We made considerable noise for a while. One of the boys in our regiment got shot through the leg with a ramrod. The Second Wisconsin regiment was in line behind us up on the hill and one of the boys left his ramrod in his gun and shot it off and it went through his leg. It did not break any bones.

About them taxes, Frank asked me if I wanted him to pay them and I wrote to him that I did if he had enough of my money. He has never answered my letter. John might ask him if he paid it if he sees him and it won’t make a great deal of difference if it ain’t paid.

Well, I send my respects to your Mother and all the rest of the family. So you must keep up good spirits and be a good girl and live in hopes to see somebody soon that is a soldier now. Write soon to your friend for it is a great pleasure to sit down and read a letter from you. So goodbye from your affectionate friend, — R. M. Work

I have not had any letter since I wrote to you last. Since I have been writing those few words, the mail has come and I heard them call my name. I must see what they have for me. Well, I fid that I have a letter from Father and one from Margaret. Father is well and I will write a few lines and send with this to Margaret.

1st Michigan Light Artillery, USS Santee

Thomas Robert Harvey, alias Samuel Hanning, Proves Service Record in Civil War

1 Comment

The following affidavits were written by Thomas Robert Harvey (1840-1926), a native of Upper Clapton—a suburb of London—England, who came to the United States prior to the American Civil War and while living in the States, volunteered for the US Navy and served as an Ordinary Seaman from 27 May 1861 to 12 September 1862. Following his discharge from the Navy, he then voluntarily accepted payment from a draftee and went as a substitute into Co. A, 1st Michigan Light Artillery where he served as a private (later corporal) from 27 February 1863 to 28 July 1865 under the alias, Samuel Hanning.

The two affidavits transcribed below summarize Thomas Harvey’s war experience rather extensively as he was required to provide ample evidence of his service to qualify for a pension—particularly since he had served under two names. The process of filing for a pension was compounded by the fact that he returned to London sometime after the war and did not begin the process of seeking a disability pension until the turn of the century. He worked as a mariner for a long time until cataracts—a common affliction in career mariners—caused him to give up the sea as a profession. He married a semi-crippled woman named Mary Sharp in 1914 who managed to take care of him late in life but lived in relative poverty in his final years.

I was requested to transcribe these documents by my friend Gina Denham of the United Kingdom who is compiling material on the 137 members of the London Branch of the US Civil War Veterans. Through her efforts, much has been learned of the service of these members and she hopes to publish a book on the subject which promises to be quite interesting.

A record from Thomas R. Harvey’s Pension File (as are the other documents) although these are not available on Fold 3.

London, 17/5/1903

Messrs. Longshaw and Ballard
Dear Sirs,

Maj. Gen. James Blair Steadman and Major S. B. Moe

Yours of April 5th [came] to hand for which I thank you very much. I appeared before U S. Consulate gents to London. As my business brings me here at present. He questioned me for about an hour. During our conversation, I told him I was Dispatch Orderly for Gen. James B[lair] Steadman of Ohio. When he asked me who was A. A. Gen’l. for Steadman, I told him Maj. S. B. Moe. He told me he was a particular friend of his and advised me to write to him which I have done mentioning several things which transpired while serving as Orderly under him so he ought to know my statements are true and that I am what I represent myself to be—Thomas R. Harvey and Samuel Hanning.

Council General asked me about our battery as to position we were in at Battle of Chickamauga and I told him we were ambushed and lost the guns. He told me my statement was correct and that he was close to Battery A, 1st Michigan Artillery at the time. I also told him that Gen’l Starkweather charged with his Brigade and saved four of our guns. We got one more gun back after the Battle of Missionary Ridge. The other one we heard was thrown in Chickamauga Creek, but however we never saw it again. When we got the guns back, most of the prolongs were lost so me, being a sailor previous to this, I told Capt. Edward Hale if I could get rope, I could make the prolongs which he did so as we could handle the guns and I made them. This was during the siege of Chattanooga. We were then stationed at the foot of Cameron Hill near the Tennessee River but as most of our horses were killed at Chickamauga, we were finally stationed at Fort Creighton [on the high ground east of Chattanooga] facing Missionary Ridge which Rebels still held at this time and also Lookout Mountain on our right. From this fort we fired minute guns for Abraham Lincoln after he was assassinated. 1

Shortly after joining Battery A, 1st Michigan Lt. Artillery, then well known as the famous Loomis’ Battery as they were a full battery of rifled guns, I was taken down with typhoid fever which terminated in the chronic diarrhea. When the army moved from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, I was sent back to Nashville, Tennessee., where I remained in hospital some time but did not get much better. So one morning the doctor asked me how I felt so I told him I felt like going to my Battery as I was quite satisfied if I stayed in hospital, I should have been dead years ago. He said I could go to Convalescent Camp but was not well enough to go to the front but however, hearing my Battery was at Tullahoma, Tenn., I took french leave of hospital, jumped a freight train going to Tullahoma, but when I got there, I found the Battery had shifted to Manchester so to Manchester I went to find they had gone on to Anderson Station, Tennessee. So the road to Manchester, only being a branch road from the main line, I had to come back to Tullahoma and take the main road which is the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad to Anderson Station, about 25 miles north of Bridgeport, Alabama.

Some of the boys was at the Station when the train arrived so I had little trouble in finding the Battery. When I reported myself to Capt. Van Pelt who commanded the battery, he said, “You are not looking very strong,” so he brought me to Doctor Powers, then Dr. for Battery A, who told me I was far from being well and to be very careful of what I ate. But I was proper hungry so some of the boys went and got me some fresh pork and green corn which makes my mouth water to think of. I had a good square meal and from that day got hearty and well.

Dear Sirs, I have asked Major S. B. Moe, A.A.G. for Gen. Steadman if he would kindly write you and let you know the statements I made to him were true. If not, would he kindly write to me. There is a fact I did not mention to Maj. S. B. Moe which I thought better not to mention but I know had I have mentioned same he would recognize me right away, and that is this. Once every week I came on Orderly for the General. On this occasion, you acted as body guard for him and rode four paces in rear of him no matter where he went. You were not supposed to carry any dispatches when you were orderly for the General unless there was an engagement on somewhere near and then if he saw fit, he could send the dispatch with his Orderly. It so happened I was Orderly for the General this day. The General J. B. Steadman and Capt. Kirk, Capt. of Commissary Department, rode over to Lookout Mountain together. Capt, Kirk’s Orderly was with him so we and him rode four paces in rear of the General & Capt. Kirk. As we were coming home from Lookout Mountain it came on to rain very heavy. We tried to find shelter but as we got wet through before we could find any, we let the horses walk but the first camp we struck the General and Capt. Kirk went into the sutler’s and invited myself and Kirl’s Orderly in to have some bread and cheese and a bottle of beer. While there, I heard the General tell Capt. Kirk he would go home and put on dry clothes and would not go out anymore that day. Well you see me being Orderly for him this day, as long as he did not go out, I was not supposed to go. So I put my horse up and then changed myself. Having the colored woman that cooked for the Orderlies ask me if I wished and dinner, I told her no. All the rest of the Orderlies out when I turned in for a sleep, it appears they got a wore shortly after. There was trouble. Only a short distance away I think it was at Lafayette, Georgia, but however the House Orderly brought a dispatch to me and said I was to carry same. I told him I was Orderly for the General this particular day and was exempt from carrying dispatches so he took the dispatch back to Maj. S. B. Moe, A. A. G. who sent it back to me. I was just going back to sleep again when the House Orderly came back with the dispatch again. I asked him said I was to carry same. He said Maj. S. B. Moe, A. A. G., do I said without thinking what I was doing, and not knowing there was trouble going on at the time, told the Orderly to tell Maj. S. B. Moe to put the dispatch where Paddy put the dollar. Of course you know where that was, never dreaming he would do so, which however he did.

The 29th Indiana Infantry were acting as Headquarters Guard. Maj. S. B. Moe, A. A. G., called one of them and sent in to arrest me and put me in the guard house. Gen’l Steadman brought me out again the next morning. I was at Headquarters for about two weeks after coming out of the guard house but not put on actual duty—simply keeping my horse and accoutrements clean. Sargeant Peet, Sargeant of Escorts, asked me to say I was stubborn and would not submit so he went me back to my battery again. This is the only trouble I got into all the time I was in the army. Had the Orderly told me they were fighting only a short distance away, and the rest of the Orderlies were out with dispatches, then I should have understood what was wrong and carried the dispatch.

Mr. Longshaw, I think if you would drop him a line—address Maj. S. B. Moe, Chattanooga, Tenn.—he is well known there. I am giving a description of myself when a soldier as near as I can. Hazel eyes, dark hair, height 5 feet 6.6 or 7 inches. Complexion dark. [Tattoo of American, English, &French Flags on right arm. Also bracelets in wrists.]

I have a sister living here in London. If I can find her, I will send a photograph of myself while in the army. I think she has it yet if you think it will doo any good. P. S. Write soon with good news.

I remain your humble servant, — Thos. R. Henry, alias Samuel Hanning, O. T. 1282648

Kindly address all letters for me to Mr. William Vert, Margaret Road off Stuart Road, Liverpool. They will forward same on to me.

1 Battle of Chickamauga September 19-21; 5 pieces captured after 27 Officers and men and 50 horses had been killed and disabled; one with 3 caissons was recaptured on September 19, and two more on the 20th, but all were unfit for duty and the Battery was ordered to Chattanooga; one gun was recaptured at Mission Ridge and the last at Atlanta. Siege of Chattanooga, Tenn., September 24-November 23. Battles of Chattanooga November 23-25. Battery stationed at Chattanooga as garrison till July, 1865. 

Affidavit of Service, dated 2 February 1904

Joined the navy on or about May 1861 at Peck Slip, New York, and was discharged at Boston, Mass., on or about September 1862. When I went by way of Fall River to New York and thence to Buffalo where sailed on the Inland Lakes until the the vessels laid up for winter. When went to work in Chicago at V. A. Turpin’s Packing House, corner of Grove and 22 Streets, Chicago, Ills. and afterwards worked for A. B. Meeker & Co., corner of Archer Road and Ogden Slip, Chicago, Ills. until coming on spring when went to Detroit in the State of Michigan. Thinking I might get an early chance to ship as I was then below the Sea in the Straits of Mackinaw, alsi in Michigan, but come to the conclusion I would enlist.

I did go as a substitute but the man I went for—I don’t know his name. He said as long as I intended going in the army, I might go in his place. I rather think he gave me 150 dollars. I think he belonged to Cassopolis in State of Michigan. My reason for assuming an alias was simply because my parents while I was serving in the Navy wished me to come home to England as soon as my time was up in the Navy which I promised them I would do, but instead of doing so, I enlisted in Battery A, 1st Michigan Light Artillery on or about February 1863. C[yrus] O. Loomis was in Detroit at this particular time recruiting for the Battery. He had a talk with and finally enlisted him in Battery A, 1st Michigan Lt. Art. Was sent from Fort Wayne, Detroit, to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, to join the battery shortly after the Battle of Stone River.

Shortly after joining Battery A, 1st Mich. Art., was taken down with typhoid fever which finally ended in the chronic diarrhea when I was sent from the hospital at Murfreesboro, Tennessee—forget whether it was No. 1 or No. 2 Hospital I was in at this time but remember it was near Stone River. When the army moved from Stone River, I was sent back to Nashville, Tenn. I rather think the Hospital I was in here was the Zollicoffer Building.

After being there about two months I should think, the doctor wanted me to go into the Convalescent Camp but I returned to Battery A, 1st Michigan Lt. Artillery [instead], then at Anderson Station, Tennessee, and remained with them until Gen. James B. Steadman took command at Chattanooga of the army when I was detailed as Orderly for J. B. Steadman for about 6 months, when I was sent back to my battery again, then stationed at Fort Creighton and camped close to Chattanooga & Knoxville Railway where remained in the Artillery Reserve until the war was finished and the battery ordered to Jackson, Michigan, where was discharged on the 28th day of July by mustering out of battery.

Battles

Chickamauga, Siege of Chattanooga. Held a position on Chattanooga Flats near the creek the time General Hooker stormed Lookout Mountain and was in the reserve camped at foot of Cameron Hill during the Battle of Missionary Ridge. At Chickamauga, we lost our guns for a while, being led into an ambush. Van Pelt was captain commanding us at this time. He lost his life in the battle. After the Battle of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, his wife sent to Capt. Ed. Hale, then commanding the battery, requesting Captain Hale to get his remains if possible which we finally did and sent them to her to Coldwater, Michigan, where Mrs. Van Pelt lived at the time. Sergeant George Jack was severely wounded in the same battle. Myself, F. Upton, S. Griffin, J. Johnson, carried him into our lines after dark the same night. I have had the pleasure of seeing him once since. I have merely mentioned the facts so as you can ask any of my comrades if these statements are true or not. If you find they are not, then I can’t be the man I represent myself to be.

List of Comrades in Battery A, 1st Michigan Lt. Artillery

A cdv of Samuel W. Finton who served in Battery A, 1st Michigan Light Artillery. Lookout Mountain 1864. (David Daily Collection)

Captain C. O. Loomis
Captain Van Pelt
Capt. Edward Hale
Capt. Wilbur
—-Sergeants—-
Ed. Vanderhoff
George Jack
William Peet
Bruce Hawley
—-Corporals—-
Solomon Mann
Fritz Upton
Davis
—-Lieutenants—-
Gus. Bauchman
Mitchel
Roerdon
Doctor Powers
—-Privates—-
H. Bluff
J[ames] Johnson
S. Griffin
Jack
F[ranklin] Hyde
P[eter] Montavaun
Starr
Munger
Searles
S. Lawrence
T. Mott
H. Vorhees
T. Robinson
A. Patterson
A[ndrew] Hanna
Murry
D[aniel] Warren
J[ames] McCarty
C[harles] Lee
Garrison

Navy

Capt. Henry Eagle of the USS Frigate Santee

When I first joined the Navy in New York, was sent on Board the Receiving Ship North Carolina, then laying off the Battery in New York Harbor, when was transferred to the U. S. Frigate [Santee] then laying at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Mass. From Portsmouth we sailed for Pensacola, Florida. As we had some cases on board for Billy Wilson’s Zouaves, then stationed at Fort Pickens which we took on shore in our boats, pulling up the river to land them at Fort Pickens past Fort Brancas and Fort McCrea—two of the Rebel forts. We were armed with a cutlass and revolver so as to defend ourselves in case they sent a boat or boats to try and capture us. Captain Henry Eagle telling us as we pulled from the ship we might have to fight for it but he did not think they would be mean enough to fire on our boats from the forts, however they did not bother us so we landed the cases and the soldiers showed us around the fort. Poor fellows. I little thought at the time I should hear afterward that the fort had been taken and the men all massacred. If this statement is not true, I was misinformed as I heard there was not one left to tell the tale. [See Battle of Santa Rosa]

USS Frigate Santee

We went from Pensacola to Hampton Roads, Virginia, and left there for Galveston just before the Rebel Frigate Merrimac came down the river and sunk the U. S. Frigate Cumberland and think they burnt the Congress and run the Minnesota aground at Sewell’s Point when the Monitor arrived just in time to save her and send the Merrimac back with four feet of water in her hold.

During [our] stay at Galveston, most of the men had scurvy. Farragut sent a gunboat down with several doctors on board to examine the crew. They made their report and we were ordered home but first to Ship Island to get a new rudder before going to Boston to be discharged. At this time, my time was up in the Navy but Commodore Farragut saw fit to hold us longer. Think there were 75 of us that had joined for one year. The rest of the crew were enlisted for three years. However, for the 3 or 4 months, was detained, I received wither one htird or one fourth more pay than I had been getting. Was Ordinary Seaman [OS] on board. Service rendered in Navy Blockading [at] Galveston. Capture of the Privateer Royal Yacht at Galveston [7 November 1861] which we finally set fire to although she sunk before she was properly burnt up. We brought 13 prisoners out of 35 which composed the crew alive, and I think four of them were wounded. Commander Chubb, I think, was the name of her commander.

We also captured a schooner named the C. P. Knapp [27 October 1861] but we captured him before we reached Galveston. He had the English Ensign flying so Captain Henry Eagle ordered the French Ensign to be hoisted at our peak in place of the Stars and Stripes. It worked all right for as soon as the captain of the schooner made us out a French Man-of-War, he hauled down the English flag and run up the Stars and Bars. He was getting well under our guns at this time—too close to get away—when the French flag come down and to his astonishment, the glorious Old Stars and Stripes took its place so we captured him.

We also captured the Delta of Liverpool loaded with saltpeter. She was trying to get into Galveston at night when a gun from the frigate brought him to. We boarded her [and] made prisoners of the crew. Put a prize crew on board and sent her home, I think, to New York, but I am not quite sure whether it was New York or Boston.

Was also for a time in a pilot boat mounting two guns cruising around the coast of Texas. We captured a schooner loaded with tobacco trying to get out of Galveston. The captain’s name was Anthony Frietas. I knew him before the war started as I boarded with him when he kept a sailor’s boarding house on Front Levee in New Orleans. A good few of our boys knew him. He introduced a bucket full of liquor to the boys and they were silly enough to drink too much of it. The consequence was he was trying to get away with us in the place of us running away with him, but the officers kept sober so we made a prize of her.

The Santee was a sailing frigate so we often run short of water as we had no way of condensing it without steam so we had two tenders to supply us—one a schooner called The Rachel Seaman, the other the barque Arthur mounting seven guns. They also cruised around the coast looking for blockade runners. One morning the captain of the barque Arthur reported to Captain Henry Eagle, commanding the U. S. Frigate Santee, that he had been fired upon from a fort down the coast. Think it was at Brazos. Captain Eagle asked him if he returned the fire. He said no. So he told him to go back and return the fire. He also sent the schooner Rachel Seaman mounting two guns with him and 10 men of a crew with orders to silence the fort and then for the Rachel Seaman to enter the river and fill some empty water casks she had on board and bring back for the Santee’s crew as they were suffering very much at the time for both food and water. Was one of the men on board the Rachel Seaman at this time. We first went to Madagorda and fired away for a while but as they did not respond, we sailed for Brazos. The fort [Fort Velasco] opened on us so we returned the fire but we did not silence the fort although it was rumored our officers in charge of the expedition told Captain Henry Eagle they had done so, or I fully believe he would have left the blockade and soon have silenced the fort. However, he mustered the Rachel Seaman‘s crew aft and much to our surprise he gave us great credit for what we had done in silencing the fort when in reality we had established nothing.

I now finish up my affidavit by respectfully requesting that the Pension Office will put me in communication with any survivors in the two services so that I may be able to correspond with them and thus establish my identity as the man I claim to be and who actually rendered the services alleged.

P. S. I have also sent a photograph of my myself to my solicitor taken while I was in Battery A, 1st Michigan Lt. Artillery taken at Murfreesboro, Tenn., and also two letters written by me while serving under my alias name of Samuel Hanning signed in my real name Thos. R. Harvey.

— Thomas R. Harvey

List of officers and comrades in U. S. Frigate Santee in 1861 and 1862 while blockading Galveston, Texas post.

Capt. Henry Eagle
—Lieutenants—-
Harold Jewett
Mitchell
—Midshipman—-
Rogers
Brown
—-Petty Officers—
Boatswain’s Mate Couners
Capt. of Forecaste Murray
Capt. Fore Top Murray
—-Seamen—
George Beacher
Peter Winter
Billy Shine
J. Murphy
Brown
Garsha
C. Hawkins
Master’s mate Lambert

London, February 2, 1904. Thomas R. Harvey, alias Samuel Hanning, O. T. No. 1282648

105th Ohio Infantry

1862: Ferdinand Fitch Fobes to Catherine (Fitch) Fobes

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The following letter was written by Pvt. Ferdinand Fitch Fobes (1842-1863) of Co. I, 105th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI). Ferdinand was the son of Simon Perkins Fobes (1815-1891) and Catherine A. Fitch (1815-1901) of Wayne, Ashtabula county, Ohio. He died of disease while in the service on 4 September 1863 at Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He is buried in the Stones River National Cemetery.

Ferdinand wrote his letter in late November 1862, several weeks after the Battle of Perryville where they had their baptism of fire. Of the men from the regiment who were engaged in the battle, one-third were killed or wounded. Following the battle, the regiment moved to Danville and then to Munfordville where they garrisoned the town and guarded the bridges.

Transcription

Camp near Munfordville, Kentucky
November 29th 1862

Mother Fobes,

I received your letter just about one hour ago that was written the 22nd of November. I am well.

Yesterday the 105th Regiment got orders to pack everything by two o’clock so to take the cars for Nashville. We was marched down to the depot and put up the tents supposing we would take the cars in the morning but here we are. Company I [was] detailed for the controlling guard. We put up a tent a few rods from the camp so as we can see that everything will go on straight and good order. The order [came] a few minutes ago to have our guns in a clean and good order for general inspection tomorrow morning if we don’t move. I suppose the whole Brigade will leave this place soon and the Kentucky regiments will be left to guard this place and the bridge just as sure as the railroad bridge be left in the hands of the Kentuckians just as sure the bridge will be burnt. The bridges will be as safe without any guard as with the Kentucky troops. That is the general opinion of the regiment.

Jesse’s health is good now. Hip has got well. My back and hips has not troubled me since i was in Danville. My health is good and my appetite never was better. I never had a pair of boots suit me better. I sold my shoes that I [had] drawn a short time before I got my bboots. I have got four pair of stockings. I think they will do me this winter. I have not worn the stockings you sent me while in Louisville. The army socks wear like iron. I have darned them once. My mittens will last me this winter. I am going to draw some undershirts and the drawers will last me this winter. If you have a chance to send me anything by Rod or someone else, you may send me a small light quilt if you are a mind to. I can have it to lay on. It will make the cold side of the ground a little warmer. And send me what eatables you think best. If you send me any butter, don’t send just enough for an aggravation. If you have lots of dried apples and berries, send me some. If you have got apple butter, send me. I can off it and some loaf sugar.

If we leave here, I think it will be safe to send a box by Rod, or someone. A little cheese for the soldiers is the best thing they can eat. I had what I called an extra Thanksgiving supper. I was guarding a barn [that] had corn and oats in about a mile from camp. A cow came along [and] I thought to myself, if she was not milk[ed], her bag might cake before she got. I got a quart of milk from her. I took some of the hard tack, shaved them up fine, had a fine, good supper. I have not any more time and space to write tonight so goodbye from your son, — F. F. Fobes

2nd Battle of Cabin Creek, Gano's Brigade

1864: John M. Davis to J. S. Beers

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Jacket Cover of Steven L. Warren’s book, “The Second Battle of Cabin Creek.”

The following rare letter was penned by John M. Davis while serving in Gano’s Brigade in the fall of 1864. He datelined his letter from their encampment near Boggy Depot following a raid north of the Arkansas River to capture a federal supply train from Fort Scott. The combined Confederate force of Texans and Native Americans found and captured the train after a pitched night battle at Cabin Creek, Cherokee Nation on Sept. 19, 1864.

“Watie’s mounted infantry and cavalry excelled at conducting raids on Federal supply lines and outposts. As time went on, Watie’s command included pro southern members of other tribes along with Cherokees. On September 19th, 1864, Watie’s command, along with some white Texas cavalry units under Brigadier General Richard Gano, teamed up to carry out an attack on a large Federal supply train and haying operation that was gathering forage for horses. The train consisted of 205 wagons, and left Fort Scott, Kansas on September 12th, bound for Fort Gibson, Indian Territory, and Fort Smith, Arkansas. It was escorted by both white cavalrymen from Kansas cavalry units as well as Union Cherokee cavalry. This successful and destructive raid occurred near Cabin Creek in the Indian Territory, and is often referred to as the Second Battle of Cabin Creek.” [Source: Iron Brigadier]

The letter was written on scraps of CSA Provision Forms, further evidence of the scarcity of paper. In his letter, Davis claims that “The boys are [now] dressed in Federal uniforms which saves our women a good deal of hard labor,” after raiding the federal stores.

Transcription

Near Boggy Depot, Choctaw Nation 1
October 6th 1864

Dear sir, I received your favor of the 1st September and I hasten to respond grateful for the blessings of Almighty God in being able so to do.

In relation to your inquiries, I am sorry that I am not situated to answer your questions satisfactory. Mr. Huddleston made a crop on the place this year. It produced good wheat every year it has been sown and made a good corn crop this year I am told by a neighbor that came from there a few days ago.

I went into the war the spring of ’62 and served one year and was discharged and last November I joined this command—Gano’s Brigade 2—and have had but little opportunity of seeing anything about your timber, but my impression is that it has been but little disturbed as there is but little improvement going on in the country.

This Brigade is moving toward Red River now, their horses being worn down by hard service. When we get to Red River I may get to go home. Then I will take a pleasure in giving you any information I can. Excuse this scribble. I am writing you on my mess box with a bad pen and am tired having marched 12 miles today. This Brigade is just off a heavy tour north of Arkansas River where we broke up two Federal stations, killing about 100 Indians and Federals, wounding a good many, taking 111 prisoners, destroying and bring off two million and a half of property wagons, mules, and supplies generally. The boys are dressed in Federal uniforms which saves our women a good deal of hard labor.

I would give you a full detail but duty calls me. I will frank this as I have no stamps. Yours, — John M. Davis

P. S. I use your old envelope as they are scarce in camp. Two million and a half dollars worth of property was destroyed and brought off taking in hay to the account. — J. M. Davis

Richard Montgomery Gano (1830-1917)

1 Boggy Depot was the location of the first Chickasaw agency in the West and served sometimes as the capital of the Choctaw Nation from 1858 to 1860. During the Civil War it housed the principal Confederate supply depot in Indian Territory. After the war a flour mill and a cotton gin operated northeast of town, and a salt works was established along nearby Salt Creek.

2 Gano’s Brigade existed from its formation in the summer of 1863 to its reassignment under Gen. Hamilton Bee in early 1865. Though the units that composed the brigade changed throughout its existence, they were the Twenty-ninth Texas Cavalry Regiment, the Thirtieth Texas Cavalry Regiment, the First Regiment Arizona Brigade, the Fifth Texas Partisan Rangers, the Thirty-third Texas Cavalry Regiment, Welch’s Texas Cavalry Company, Wells’s Texas Battalion, the Eleventh Texas Field Artillery Battery, and the Seventeenth Texas Field Artillery Battery. Throughout its history Gano’s Brigade fought alongside Confederate Indians, led by Gen. Stand Watie. The brigade’s actions mainly consisted of raids on Union supply trains and troops maneuvering in Arkansas and the Indian Territory.

97th New York Infantry, Battle of Hatcher's Run

1865: Unidentified “Henry” to his sister Mary

1 Comment

I had hoped to be able to identify the author of this letter, known only as “Henry,” who wrote to his sister Mary and his mother from the camp of the 97th New York Infantry near Hatcher’s Run, Virginia, in mid-February 1865. Unfortunately I was not able to do so. The only clue in the letter was a reference to some hometown boys from the Construction Corps named “Padson” but I suspect the surname was misspelled. It may have been Pattison or Patterson instead.

In any event, the letter contains a description of the fight at Hatcher’s Run (aka Dabney’s Mill) where the two sides fought back and forth for three days, ending in a tactical draw. The Union advance was stopped, but would not be forced back. The Federals dug in, having moved three miles closer to the vital railroad that kept Petersburg and Richmond alive. Grant was unable to permanently cut the Boydton Plank Road but found that the Confederates were already barely using it due to the threat of being raided. There had been almost no traffic on the road to sweep up. The fighting extended the Union siege lines another three miles and forced the Confederates to do the same, even though they were already dangerously near the breaking point.

The 97th New York regiment, Col. Charles Wheelock, was organized at Boonville, and there mustered in the service of the United States for three years February 18, 1862. In May, 1863, it received by transfer the three years’ men of the 26th Infantry; June 7, 1864, the men of the Sad Infantry, not mustered out with their regiment, and August 10, 1864, 103 men of the 94th Infantry. At the expiration of its term of enlistment, the men entitled thereto were discharged, and the regiment retained in service. The companies were recruited principally: A and C at Boonville; B in Lewis county; D and F at Salisbury; E at Prospect and vicinity; G in Herkimer county; H at Utica and Lowville; I at Little Falls; and K at Rome

Transcription

Camp of the 97th N. Y. State Volunteer.
Near Hatcher’s Run, Virginia
February 21st 1865

Dear Sister,

I now seat myself to write a few lines homeward to let you know that I am well and I can thank the Lord for it. We had a pretty hard time on this last raid on the left of the line. We had 10 killed and 20 wounded. That is a good many for one regiment. Mary, I saw the Padson boys last night. You know that they are in the Construction Corps. They was surprised to see me. We had a good old chat together. They are about half of a mile from our camp and so you see that I see them often now.

There is good news in camp now. The news came to our regiment last night that Charleston is evacuated. If it is true, it is a glorious victory. We have got them fenced in now and I hope that we may drive them out of Richmond next summer. I guess that Old Grant will try and flank them as he did last summer. Well Mary, a few words to mother. — Henry

Dear Mother, I must not neglect in writing a few words to you. I received your letter just before we started on the last raid and had hardly time to read it. We had a very hard time of it. I will tell you as near as I can about the raid and you can judge for yourself. We started on the morning of the 5th, crossed Hatcher’s Run and laid in line of battle all night and in the morning we fell back over the run again and laid in most in the forenoon and at one o’clock we attacked the enemy. We succeeded finely at first. We drove them about one mile as I thought into their works and then they received reinforcements and drove us back at a double quick. And when we was falling back, one division of the 6th Corps fired upon us.

Well the morning of the 7th we tried them in another place and there we lost a good many of our regiment. I could not see what the whole thing amounted to. It did not amount to shop [?] I don’t think.

Mother, we are putting up new shanties and when we get them finished, I will write a good long letter to you. Give my love to all. — Henry

16th Massachusetts Infantry, Battle of Glendale/Frayser's Farm

1862: Asa Dennis Smith to his Family

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The Boston Globe, 25 November 1911

In 1971 an article entitled “Asa Smith Leaves the War” appeared in American Heritage Magazine detailing the story of a Union soldier, Asa Dennis Smith (Co. K, 16th Massachusetts Infantry), who received a grievous facial wound on June 30, 1862 at Glendale/Frayser’s Farm and, after being refused medical help was left for dead but somehow managed to survive. The article was based in large part on Smith’s handwritten autobiography (which I have not been able to locate) and details his determination to survive in spite of what was believed to be a mortal, and untreatable wound. Later in life he even became a physician himself, practicing in Boston and Dorchester.

The following extract comes from the American Heritage article:

“…. I turned my head to the right to speak a word of defiance in the ear of Corporal William E. Eldridge, and before it was turned square to the front something hit me. It felt as though an immense timber had struck me end first, with great force. It was not painful; but seemed to partly daze me. I did not fall, but dropped my rifle and put my hand to my chin, and found that it felt as though torn to pieces. Lieutenant Meserve saw me and told me to go to the rear as soon as possible. From the direction that die ball came, I am of the opinion that it was fired by one of the sharpshooters in the trees.

I started for the yd Corps field hospital, which was established in the Willis Church, a small building on the Quaker Road (so called) leading to Malvcrn Hill. It was but a short distance in the rear, and the nearest way was through the wood and was marked by small hospital flags at intervals. On my way I found two or three small, coarse towels which evidently had been thrown away by some soldier, and used them to try to staunch the hemorrhage, which was quite severe. On arriving at the field hospital station, I found several surgeons busily at work, with men wounded in apparently about every conceivable manner. The operating tables were made from the seats of the church, placed upon empty beef or pork barrels.

I got a seat beside a young rebel who was shot in one foot and waited for a time, but as nobody came to my assistance I went outside and found D. Harris Clark of Co. B, who was on detail and was an old acquaintance. He found a young New York surgeon and prevailed upon him to attend to my case. Upon his coming (as I could not talk) I made him understand that I wished to know if I would recover, upon which he shook his head and said, “Doubtful.” And, after a short interval, “I have seen men recover who were hurt as badly as you are.” This was not very encouraging; but somehow hope was strong and I made up my mind to try for it. The surgeon took a bandage and, passing it under my chin, pinned the ends together on the top of my head, and said, “This is all I can do for you now.” Then he ordered Clark to take my equipment oil and get a board and lay me upon it alongside the church, which he did, using my cartridge box and haversack for a pillow.”

Five of Asa Smith’s letter were acquired recently by Richard Weiner who has made them available for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared. There is some excellent content within the letters—particularly the last letter written from a hospital two weeks after his injury, conveying the optimistic spirit and fortitude which was responsible for his survival and his being able to establish a future life marked by a high level of accomplishment. I agree with Richard, his story would make a great movie.

See also—

1862: William Wallace Smith to Asa Dennis Smith, Spared & Shared 9, posted November 2015.

Collection of Asa Smith, K Company, 16th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry.

“The Civil War: The Second Year Told By Those Who Lived It” Stephen W. Sears, 2012. (Asa D. Smith: Narrative of the Seven Days’ Battles)

Letter 1

Camp of the 16th Massachusetts in “Camp Hamilton” near Fortress Monroe

Camp Hamilton
April 27, 1862

Dear Sister,

I am sorry to hear that mother is no better, but hope she soon will be. Am afraid she frets too much about Wallace. 1 Nothing of importance in this department. The Galena has arrived and yesterday struck her masts, having nothing but her smoke stacks above the deck, which is shot proof. She is a wicked looking craft and as the [CSS] Virginia, is daily expected. They may soon have a chance to try her. It seems to me that the three vessels can whip anything the Rebs can bring along.

The Michigan 1st has got to Newport News to be brigaded but I don’t know whether they will go farther or not. The darkies are at work building a railroad from the fort to our camp where the new store houses are and I shouldn’t wonder if it was extended farther.

We are all in an uproar as we have got new tents. We had just got fixed up around our old tents when they were condemned and the Sibley’s given to us. We have got them floored but have not built the porch yet and are all littered up with boards and tools. I think it is wasting labor to make the improvements as we are soon coming home. The fall of Yorktown must soon take place and soon after you will see me at hoe.

There are men here who are willing to bet that the 16th will be discharged in less than six weeks but I am not quite so sanguine as that. I have written to Wallace once since he left here but have not heard from him excepting what you have written. We hear firing every day but no great move has been made as yet. It would not be strange if they were waiting for Banks and McDowell to come nearer before they strike.

Wounded men are brought to the Chesapeake Hospital nearly every day and a few prisoners have been brought to the fort. Never fear but “Little Mac” will come out all right. Give my love to mother and all the rest of the folks and excuse the looks of this.– Asa D. Smith

I reckon there is enough on the card.

1 William “Wallace” Smith enlisted in the 22nd Massachusetts Infantry on September 17th, 1861 and the two brothers exchanged letters about the soldier’s life. Some of Wallace’s letters to Asa, as well as a few from the family at home to Asa, are available in the Gilder Lehrman Collection 13742.

Letter 2

Gosport Navy Yard
May 12, 1862

Dear Mother,

Here I am in Dixie, safe and secure. We left camp last Thursday and went on board a steamer where we staid until the next morning when we went back and pitched tents again feeling blue, you may believe. I was detailed on guard and if I ever wanted to be out of the army, it was then. In the afternoon our boys started for the boat to escort the body of our late comrade, but before they had gone half way there, orders came to pack immediately and they were sent back. I went to the Officer of the Guard, Lieut. Flagg, and got released from that duty and got ready for the tramp, and in less than 15 minutes we were on the way to the fort where we embarked on board the Nelly Baker, the old Nahant boat. We lay on board all night and kept crossing and recrossing the [Hampton] roads till we landed at 7 in the morning near Willoughby’s Point where we expected to [ ] as the Monitor and 4 war vessels had been shelling Sewall’s Point during the afternoon and the Rip Raps had kept up a steady fire all the evening.

We immediately took up the line of march for Norfolk (Gen. Wool with Generals Mansfield and Weber being with us). We pushed on at an awful rate. It was very hot and dusty so you could hardly see 20 feet at times, and soon the boys began to throw away overcoats, blankets, and oftentimes knapsack and all its contents, and for two or three miles the sides of the road were lined with cast away property, but I had left everything I wanted to spare in the old camp and hung to mine, though it seemed as if I should drop sometimes. I believe nothing but pride kept me in the ranks. But anyway, I stuffed my hat with leaves and pressed on. A great many fell out and one sergeant of Co. A was sun struck but will probably recover.

We passed a deserted cavalry camp early in the morning and were told that they left it about three hours before. We expected a fight which did a great deal toward keeping up our pluck, and some tall walking was done. After marching several miles the cavalry reported the bridge burned and we had to countermarch a considerable distance to take another road but we pushed on at no time stopping to rest over 10 minutes until within three miles of the city when the word passed down the lines, “a battery ahead to be carried,” and the order was given to “unsling knapsacks” and pile them up on the side of the road.

The lightening us of our load and news of a battery started us a nearly a double quick but soon a clearing showed us volumes of smoke—a sign that they were leaving, and when we came in, not a “Secesh” was to be seen. The 20th New York entered first and planted their colors on the ramparts. The 16th was the 3rd regiment to enter. We found the works strong but there was no regular ditch in front so they could have been easily stormed. They are said to be between 5 and 6 miles long & to mount 92 guns. Part of the barracks were burned but they did not wait to finish the job nor even to spike a gun.

Col. Powell T, Wyman, 16th Massachusetts

We stopped here and rested and each man made a dipper full of coffee as we had had nothing but hard tack and cold water for about 36 hours and at length the 16th started for the city. Col. [Powell T.] Wyman claiming the honor by right of seniority, we entered it a little before dark and showed them the first Yankee flag that they had seen for some time, and I assure you I never felt prouder in my life than when marching through the streets of Norfolk. The greater part of the people looked on in sullen silence but our welcome was a great deal more cordial than I expected. One old man approached the color bearer and taking off his hat exclaimed, “I thank God I’m all right now.” Another one took off his hat at the sight and said, “I bless God that I have lived to see the star spangled banner once more.” One woman waved her handkerchief saying, “Oh! how I have longed to see this day,” and many similar scenes I witnessed.

As we drew near the city, we saw the light of a tremendous fore and rightly guessed that it proceeded from the Navy Yard. They had set fire to all the shops but two (one machine shop and the foundry) and all the vessels at the yard, 8 in number. They also burned the cotton warehouse in Portsmouth and threw some 500 boxes of tobacco overboard, some of which we fished up for our own use. On halting in the city we found out the cause of our crossing the roads so often, and saw its effects as it was reported in the city that Wool was advancing with over 40,000 men while we probably numbered less than 6,000, but we took care not to undeceive them, giving them to understand that the main body had camped a few miles back, as the Merrimack was within 5 miles with 500 men on board.

At about 9 o’clock the right wing crossed the ferry and took possession of the yard, the rest remaining in Norfolk till last night. Co. K was put on guard in the city of Portsmouth and we had a hard night without overcoats or blankets and nothing but the pavements for a bed. Ater sweating so through the day, it seemed as if we should freeze and we are no better off now as our knapsacks have not arrived and our tents are at Old Point. We had not got the first relief posted before we heard a crash and soon found a gang with some boxes in the street. We charged on them when they scattered leaving us 4 boxes of flintlock guns, 1 of sabers, and 1 of cartridge & cap boxes. We also found two buildings occupied by the rebels as commissary stores which we took possession of and yesterday we fed on secesh ham and hard tack, and during the night we found several soldiers. They are the worst dressed men you ever saw.

About 5 yesterday morning we heard a loud report which proved to be the blowing up of the Merrimac. Three of her crew were brought here—two of them Lowell men. The rest landed at Craney Island and were taken by the garrison to Richmond. They say they could not get out nor touch us without shelling their own cities so they blew her up. They say that the Monitor used her up badly.

Yesterday 4 men-of-war came up and anchored between the cities, broadside on. They were greeted with cheer on cheer from the citizens, and during the day the American flag was hoisted on a great many private houses.

Last night Co. K was on patrol and ordered all citizens indoors at 8:30 o’clock. The watchmen objected to going but were told their term of service had expired. The streets were travelled all night. What little sleep we got was on the sidewalk in from of the Ocean House. A flag of truce from Gen. Hager came down last night to the Colonel who commands this side of the river. I hear that Gen. Viele is to command here. I forgot to state that Old Abe came round every boat at the fort and bid us God speed. Co. H is at Craney Island.

We have no certain news since Thursday. How is Wallace? I hope this may find your health improved. Can’t tell half the news. We make it too fast. Direct as usual to the fort. Send me 1 dollar if handy. Suppose we have taken at least 200 cannon and any quantity of other stuff. Am first rate. Love to all, Asa.

Letter 3

Camp near Fair Oaks
June 20th 1862

Dear Mother,

I intended to have written before but was unable and am taking my chance now, only on picket reserve. I have received but one letter from you since we left Suffolk but got a paper yesterday. Did you receive that note?

I got a line from Wallace yesterday. He has joined his regiment. He was at White House when the 29th landed, only two or three days before our arrival. I suppose before this reaches you, the papers will have notified you that we have smelt powder but I will tell you our movements as well as I can.

Sunday afternoon [15 June 1862] we had a smart thunder shower and in the midst of it, the Rebs made a dash at our pickets and took a captain and forty men. Some two or three were killed, including Gen. Sickle’s aide. We were under arms and stood through the shower formed in line of battle. Again at three the next morning we were turned out by skirmishing on the pickets toward our left and several times since Sunday they have thrown a few shells amongst us, but without doing much hurt. On Wednesday the 18th at about 10 o’clock, the bugle sounded (the signal for a general alarm) and the whole Army of the Potomac was under arms. After standing in line about an hour, we were dismissed with orders to fall in at half past three, ready for action.

At the appointed time we formed and marched to the line where the 69th New York were picketing where we found Gen. Hooker & Grover, and were ordered to deploy in the woods between the Williamsburg road and the railroad, and drive in the enemy’s pickets as far as it would be safe in order to find out the chances for taking artillery through.

We started in with good relish, well pleased at the chance of meeting some rebels, and as for myself, I had a curiosity to know how I should feel under fire. After going a short distance through a very thick wood, we came to a swamp where we waded above our knees in water. We soon pushed through and very soon after the firing began on the left and in a few minutes became general along the whole line. We advanced so rapidly that we could not keep their cover, but left as quick as possible, and here they met their greatest loss, our boys raking them terribly. We were so eager that we paid little attention to cover, and before long we received a whole volley probably from their reserve which took off some of our boys. But we pushed them through the woods clear to their rifle pits although we suffered badly.

It was at the time of the volley that I first thought of cover, a son of Dr. Sherman of Waltham, and a number of our company falling dead within five feet of me. There were four of us standing in a small open space when a dozen or more bullets whistled by us and he fell, shot in the mouth. I got behind a stump and the others behind trees and watched for a chance to return compliments, the rebels all bring hid, and for the first time I felt mad. We kept our position and when one showed himself, we fired. But soon the order came to fall back and we slowly retreated. We were obliged to leave our comrade where he fell as it would have been death to have approached him but it seemed hard although we knew he was beyond surgical aid.

Our loss in this skirmish of 3/4 of an hour was 18 killed, 25 wounded, and 11 missing—more than the 1st Regiment lost at Williamsburg in ten hours of skirmishing. Lieut. Rogers of Co. F was instantly killed and Capt. Donovan of Co. D is missing. The loss in my own company in killed—Orderly Sergeant Charles F. Coburn, & Private Robert Sherman; in wounded Gregg. Smith, James Leverton, and Henry J. Miller (neither of them dangerously); and missing Joseph Corrigan. Both of our dead were left where they fell, it being impossible to bring them off. The death of Sergt. Coburn is a great loss to us as he was a general favorite.

The wounded were sent to White House yesterday, We don’t know the loss of the Rebs but it was certainly greater than our own. I know of 5 killed by Co. K alone. I believe we performed out duty to the satisfaction of the General and the other regiments call it a spunky affair. I heard an officer of the 26th Pennsylvania say that it was the most dashing affair that has happened on the peninsula.

I am certain of one thing—that the boys are not so anxious to get into another fight as they were the first one but will fight as hard as they feel rather sore to think we got cut up so. As for me, I have seen enough of it though I thought but little of it at the time and we were actually laughing and joking when we entered the woods, we were so pleased to get a chance.

I was detailed to work on the redoubt yesterday and so am on the reserve, although the regiment is on the advance. I hear that two men were wounded out there last night. There is a brisk cannonading going on to the right of us. I forgot to say that we brought in 7 prisoners with us. While we were in the woods one of our guns threw a few shells which it is said did good execution. I am in good health and feeling first rate but have a good deal of duty to do. With love, — Asa

Letter 4

Addressed to Mrs. E. Smith, Newton, Lower Falls, Massachusetts

Fair Oaks
June 27, 1862

Dear Mother,

There was a fight here day before yesterday. The attack was made by our division and Kearney’s was also engaged. We got possession of the belt of woods in the front of us. My company was not engaged but was under fire a good share of the day. Seven companies were in the fight, and the loss of the regt was 26 in killed, wounded, and missing. Lieut. Flagg was wounded in the arm. Keyes was hit in the head by a shell but it did not explode and only stunned him. The 1st [Massachusetts] lost 86 in killed, wounded and missing. The 11th had 20 wounded.

The enemy attacked of General [Fitz John] Porter yesterday and dispatches were read to us last night stating that he had turned their left and whipped them at every point. The bands played on receipt of the news for the first time since they have been here. The cannonading has been going on all the morning and we are under arms, expecting they will try to break through near us. I am all right so far. Expect Wallace has been into it. Meagher’s Brigade captured 18 pieces of artillery yesterday, We have lost all our rubber blankets. We left them outside the woods when we went into support the 2nd New Hampshire and have not seen them since.

This life is a hard one but we hope to get through soon. Give love to all the folks. — Asa

Letter 5

In hospital
July 13, 1862

Dear Mother,

I just received your letter and was glad to hear that you took it so well. I don’t know where the story could start from that I was dead for I am sure I don’t intend to die at present, though I didn’t know yesterday but I should. It seems there is a vein on the inside my lip which is inclined to trouble me. It had bled a little once before but yesterday morning when I woke, I found it had bled freely during my sleep. I called the nurse and while cleaning my mouth, it commenced to bleed again and continued until the nurse got frightened and went for the doctor who came, but before it stopped I was so weak that they had to hold me up. I never came so near to fainting in my life.

If that will not bleed any more, I shall do first rate but I am a little afraid of it. The doctors told me yesterday that they thought I should not be badly disfigured but would never be able to chew anything and I guess that so for most all my jawbone is missing but I can stow away spoon victuals beautifully.

Just before you letter came, I received letter from Ben Hall saying if I wanted any assistance to telegraph him. I suppose it has been on behalf of the Engine Company so you see the boys don’t forget us.

I am in hopes to get along well and come home in the course of a month or two and tell M. there’s little danger of my joining the regiment. I have no cartridge teeth. 1 I shall be discharged as soon as I get well. I am obliged to the neighbors for their kindness. Should like to see some Boston papers. Will try and write oftener. Love to all, — Asa

Monday morning. Am first rate.

1 Despite his severe injury, Asa retained his sense of humor. Here he reassures his family he won’t reenlist given that he no longer has teeth with which to bite open a cartridge to load his musket. Medical records reveal that Asa was admitted to the hospital at the Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, on 4 June 1862 with a compound fracture of the lower jaw. The treatment consisted of the removal of that portion of the jaw lying between the molars of the opposite sides. The secondary hemorrhage described in this letter was arrested by the application of ice. He recovered and was discharged on 27 July 1862 with very little disfiguration. In 1866 it was reported that the bone had reunited though he was still unable to masticate solid food. The disability was considered total and permanent.

31st New York Infantry

1861: John C. Allen to his Father

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The following letter was written by Corp. John C. Allen who was 22 years old when he enlisted at New York City to serve two years in Co. D, 31st New York Infantry. He entered the service as a private in June 1861 but was shortly after promoted to corporal. During the Peninsula Campaign, John was wounded and captured at Gaines Mill on 27 June 1862 but was paroled and exchanged a month later. He mustered out with his company in June 1863.

The 31st New York was sometimes called the Montezuma Regiment or the Baxter Light Guards. They left the state and served at or near Washington D. C. from the time of their arrival in late June 1861 until joining the Army of the Potomac (AOP) in its Spring 1862 Campaign. At the time this letter was written in late December 1861, the regiment was in General Franklin’s Brigade of the AOP.

TRANSCRIPTION

Alexandria Camp
31st New York Vols.
December 22d 1861

Dear Father,

I take my pen again to write to you. I have been out on picket since I last wrote to you. Was gone four days. We had very mild weather. I suppose you have had good weather.

Here I will tell you a story about this place that we last went to. I think we have been to this place four times. We stacked arms in front of a farm house and posted a guard, about three in number, on the road not far from the house. The barn is opposite the house so the guard challenges people as they pass, allowing no one to pass without a pass. The house or barn was not entered the first time. The second time we went at midnight. There came some officers on horses and entered the house, barn and other places, taking from the barn three horses leaving but one horse and entered the house and found the owner as was told them. It appears that this man was in the rebel army and was in the Battle of Bull Run and was wounded in the leg and was taken there to his home. He then showed them his wound. He had seven slaves and they were all freed and he had two sons old enough to join the army so it appears that he volunteered and was a rebel of the blackest kind.

So then they took from him cattle, pigs and some other things but he is sworn into the Union now and they don’t trouble his things. I saw him come out of his hog house when we was there last—the first time I had seen him. One of this slaves I saw a few days since near our camp. He told me he was taking care of horses for one of the Generals for ten dollars a month so you see that the Government has the power to take horses or slaves or any other property from the rebels and an officer told him the night they got wind of him when he was laying in bed helpless that the law of war was they should burn his house over his head. The ways for the transgressors are hard.

That man I saw shot was not worse than he. He has a very good farm but I suppose he has that same old heart. The woodland is all cut down. Gen. Lee of the rebel army has a large tract of land there—the wood being all cut down last fall and now they are cutting it in four feet [lengths] and carting it to the different camps.

Nothing very uncommon took place [on picket]. We came in on Friday. I took as much tobacco as I wanted out of a field that was left by a rebel, I suppose, as it is too late to gather it at this season of year. I venture to say that 99 out a 100 of the inhabitants of this neighborhood are rebels.

It is dark. You see I don’t get on the line. Will say if there is any tax for me to pay, let me know and I will send it on. It begins to rain. Without any regard to receiving your letters from you, I write to you. It may be some time before I write and it may not so if you do not receive letters from me regular, you must not think strange. I hear that in New York there is three feet of snow. If so, it is much milder here than there.

I was on guard last night in the camp. I did not get much sleep. The guard duty is not very hard for me. Some of them think it is hard. There was three reliefs—two hours on post and four off. There were nine posts. I will give you an idea of the guard duty. The guard is mounted in the morning soon after dress parade. They appear on the parade ground and inspected. They then march to the guard house. The band play for them. There is about twenty-five in the band, mostly brass pieces, and then there is about twenty-five more drummers and fifers that play for the reveilles. Well the guard march to the guard house or tents and the old guard present arms and then they leave and the names of the guard are taken and the number of the post given them.

General William Buel Franklin

Yesterday I was on Post No. 2, it being on the road in the camp where all the officers pass in and out. Gen. Franklin, who is the general of our brigade, whose quarters are near ours, passed out and I presented to him and he returned the salute with his hand, so I passed none in without they showed me their pass.

Last night at about one o’clock, I saw a party coming towards me. I commanded to halt and say who comes there. The answer is Grand Round and Field Officer of the day. I then say, “Advance Sergeant of the Grand Round, and give the countersign.” He gives me the countersign, then I say, “The countersign is correct. Advance Grand Round.” If you can find this out, you can do more than I can. Your son, — J. C. Allen

22nd Tennessee Infantry, 3rd Kentucky Mounted Infantry

1864: Confederate Diary, 22nd Tennessee & 3rd Kentucky

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This diary was kept in 1864 by an unidentified Confederate soldier who was probably residing in the vicinity of Clinton, Kentucky where he enlisted in June 1861 to serve the Confederacy and his company was made a part of the 22nd Tennessee Infantry. As he states in his diary, he was with the 22nd Tennessee at the Battle of Belmont which was fought on 7 November 1861. The 22nd Tennessee was one of four Tennessee regiments with the 12th Arkansas and Betlzhoover’s Battery under Gen. Gideon Pillow’s command on the Missouri side of the Mississippi river when the battle began. They were caught in an open cornfield under heavy fire where they suffered heavy casualties.

The diarist apparently deserted his regiment at this point and returned to his home in Kentucky. According to the Goodspeed History of Tennessee, vol. 12, the only company from Kentucky joining the 22nd Tennessee was Co. F (“The Kentucky Braves”). It notes that many men from this company later became members of Co. M, 3rd Kentucky Infantry. While in the 22nd Tennessee, they were led by Captains Francis M. Stewart, William Lindsey, and J. Clay Horne.

Two and a half years later, in April 1864, he informs us that he enlisted a second time in the Confederate service, this time joining Co. M, 3rd Kentucky Infantry which became mounted infantry about that time. They became part of Maj. Gen. Hylan B. Lyon’s Brigade in Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest’s Cavalry Corps.

The diary itself is made from a ledger that has been cut into smaller pages and hand stitched with string. Most pages are blank but there are a few pages at the beginning describing the movements of the 3rd Kentucky Mounted Infantry including the mention of the Battle of Brice’s Crossroads and more particularly the Battle of Harrisburg, Mississippi—both attempts by Gen. Forrest to disrupt Gen. Sherman’s supply lines during the Atlanta Campaign. There are a few names of members of Co. M in the diary but I was unable to identify any of them as the author. There is a name on the back cover of the diary with Pine Bluff, Ky. but I could not match possible names against the regimental roster. I do not have the company rosters for both Co. F, 22nd Tennessee and Co. M of the 3rd Kentucky to compare them, however. Perhaps someone else can narrow it down further. The scanned pages of the diary are in the footnotes of this post.

It’s possible that the diarist did not survive the war given that the diary has many pages left unfilled and it ends abruptly in early October 1864. Perhaps he was killed at the Battle of Franklin a few weeks later.

Map Showing the Battlefield of Harrisburg, Mississippi

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

Transcription

Com[pany] M 3 Ky. Reg.
The travels of our company.

I joined at Clinton, Ky. 1861. June 15th was organized in 22nd Tenn. Regt. 18th July of the same year at Trenton, Tenn. Moved to Union City the 1st of August and moved to Columbus, Kentucky September 5th, to Matfield the 15th, back to Columbus 22nd, to Camp Beauregard 27th, back to Columbus November the 1st.

Battle of Belmont, Missouri. Two killed and four wounded. Here I left the company and rejoined at Clinton the second time in April 1864, from there to Jackson, Tennessee, and from that to Corinth. Here we joined the Third Kentucky Regiment.

May the 1st, 1864, to Tupelo, back to Corinth the 10th, and the 20th back to Tupelo the 28th. Little Bear River, Alabama, June the 1st. Back to Tupelo the 3rd. Boonville the 7th. On the 10th, the fight at Brice’s Crossroads. 1 killed, 3 wounded. To Guntown the 15th. Baldwin the 20th. Tupelo 23rd. Elizabethtown July the 7th, Pontotoc the 8th before Harrisburg the 13th, 14th, 15th—three days fighting, 1 killed, 2 wounded. Shannon Station 18th, Pikeville the 20th, Egypt Station 21st. Shannon Station 27th.

Review of troops at Okeana August 3rd to Pontotoc the 6th. Sarepta the 10th. Lafayette Springs the 14th, Oxford the 17th, 14 MS back cross the Yocking the 20th. Back to Oxford the 22nd. [Nathan B.] Forrest went to Memphis and returned to us here to Springdale the 25th, back to Oxford the 30th, to Water Valley September 1st. Grenada the 2nd. The 4th started to Verona. Got to Coffeeville the 5th, to Sarepta the 6th, to Pontotoc the 7th, Verona the 8th. The 13th started to Tibbee Station, to Shannon the 14th, to Pikeville 15th, to West Point the 16th. Stayed two days.

Got to Tibbee [Station] the 19th September. October the 5th started to Corinth. Five days travel.

…returned to Guntown and staid until we got the [ ] off of the battlefield. Then went to Baldwin Station and stayed one day and then come back to Tupelo. Staid there [ ] weeks and then Smith wants to try his hand [ ] in the saddle on the Elizabeth [ ] from Tupelo to Elizabethtown that day Smith and [illegible]…

[ ] to the west side of the town [Harrisburg] seven miles and stopped to skirmish with them and tried to bring on a regular engagement but he would not come out. We staid here three days. On the thirteenth we formed a line of battle and started in and soon found that they had left for Tupelo that morning before day. We then too the Verona road that runs about three miles south of the Tupelo road for twenty miles. Then it was who should get to Tupelo first. We had thirty-five miles to make while they had only twenty [illegible] hours the start of us. They was in as big hurry as we was. We run into them five miles southwest of Tupelo causing them to burn twenty of their wagons with one small brigade of Tenn. Bell’s Brigade. Fought their whole army for one hour. Our Kentucky Brigade came up in the time, dismounted and crossed the creek and charged them. They passed by and went to Harrisburg three miles west of Tupelo and made breastworks that night.

The next morning the two brigades—Bell’s Tennessee and [Hylan B.] Lyon’s Kentucky Brigade [carried] on the fight. They charged them, drove them from their first line of works but was not strong enough to hold them for there was at least ten or twelve to one. They fell back to our line of works but they [the Yankees] would not follow. That night General [Stephen D.] Lee’s Brigade of Tennessee and Mississippi on our right charged them. They admit a loss of five hundred men that night. The next morning the attack was renewed and by twelve o’clock there was [ ] and on their way for [illegible]…Tupelo. They halted and ambushed for us. They got us good this time. They killed or wounded pretty near every commanding officer that was there and fell back to Harrisburg for headquarters that night. Our army followed up the enemy now and then some fight to get here with burnt wagons or an awful lot of fresh graves of their dying wounded. Our Brigade left the front here. It has been hard work for tewm days, never resting day or night.

We staid [illegible] move to [ ] Station. Here [illegible]…from Pikeville to Egypt Station.

The Confederate Memorial dedicated to the Confederates who died at the Battle of Harrisburg on 14 July 1864. It is in the NPS Park on Main Street in Tupelo.