Award-Winning Historical Fiction Author, T.W. Harvey: A letter by my Great-Great Uncle sent home after the Battle of Shiloh, April 12 1862

 

From Award-Winning Historical Fiction Author, T.W. Harvey:

A letter by my Great-Great Uncle sent home after the Battle of Shiloh

Addressed to Miss F.P. Porter
Hopewell Muskingum Co.
Ohio
Pittsburg Landing April 12th 1862

Dear Sister:
We got started for this place about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Arrived here about 8 o'clock the same eve, distance about 12 miles. However, the morning we came in off of picket, the firing commenced at this point and kept up until dark. It was tremendous and never ceased until dark. The result was our men were driven all day in the first place, they were taken by surprise. When we arrived we were tired & sleepy. We were then drawn up in a line of battle and commanded to sleep on our arms. The Capt & I fixed down our blankets & threw ourselves down to rest. I soon fell asleep. About midnight it commenced raining & rained for keeps from this time on until morning. I could not get to sleep for the cries and screams of the wounded on the field which was awful. About daylight, one of the boys from Co. G went to take his pistol out of his pocket where it went and shot him through the hand.

Soon after the firing commenced -- it came thick and heavy. Beauregard was in command and as they had driven us all the day previous. He told his men that if they would pitch in, it would only be a nice little breakfast skirmish to clean us out, but as you find, he was sadly mistaken. We were now ordered around on the right flank where we soon found our post, We were exposed to the severest of the fire the whole day. At some times the shells would burst right above our heads. We were now marched up into an open field, the enemy had formed in the same on the opposite side. Here we were, right out with nothing to protect us & only sheltered by the thick growth of timber. Here I witnessed one of the most beautiful scene I ever saw. Our whole brigade drawn up in this large field of about I think 50 acres. If you had been listening, it seems to me that you might have heard us cheering. We now pitched into them regular and you ought to have seen them skedaddle.

It is of no use to try to mention the number of times I came so near being struck. To make a long story short, the ball and shell came thick and fast around us all day until about 5 o'clock when they skedaddled for keeps. Our general says we behaved the most cool and our fire took the best effect of any other Regt. We gave them one fine volley. They broke immediately. Our guns are so superior to theirs, they can't stand up to us anyhow. Our forces here was about 80000 men, theirs 140000 beyond doubt. Our loss was 5000, there's 11000. The battle at Donelson is no where to be compared with this.

Direct to G.W. Porter, Co. B, 78th Regt, O.V.I. Savannah, Tenn River, Tenn. Care of Col. M.D. Leggett to be forwarded immediately.

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