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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1 comment:
Such great history to have that letter!
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