Letter from Jim B. Martin to John Goodwin, Randolph, Alabama

http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/randolpy/military/civilwar/jbmartin.txt
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This file was contributed by: 
Mindy Hudson 
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October 2000

I have a copy of a letter which my grandmother once had which was written by  
Jim Bl Martin, Bicouac 22 Regt. to his great grandfather, Mr. John Goodwin  
(Goodin) regarding the battle of Chickamauga Creek. In this letter, Mr.  
Martin, describes the deaths of two family members, Sgt. William Blake and  
John M. Goodwin. It also lists several other members of the infantry who were  
killed in the battle.

Source: The following letter was written to Mr. John Goodwin of Randolph Co., 
Alabama informing him of the death of his son-in-law Sergeant William Blake, 
husband of Mary Goodwin Blake, and his nephew, John Goodwin at the Battle of 
Chickamauga Creek. Also included are names of others from the regiment who were 
killed or wounded. I capitalized the names to make them more easily seen. 
Bivouac 22nd Regt.
Chickamauga Station
Tenn, Sept. 23, 1863

Mr. JOHN GOODWIN,
My dear sir,

It is with feelings of no ordinary regret, mingled with true grief that I have 
to announce to you the too sad intelligence of the death of two very dear 
friends and relatives of yours, who fell of Sunday 30th Inst. in the great 
battles of Chickamauga Creek, while nobly maintaining the Color of their 
Country.

I allude to your Son in Law  SERGT. WILLIAM BLAKE and your nephew JNO. M. 
GOODWIN. They have fallen and two nobler more gallant Spirits never, never fell-
than they.
Both of them pressed forward with unprecedented bravery, beyond the front of the 
Co. and Regt. in one of the most daring gallant charges made during this war. 
When JOHN GOODWIN was first wounded, he was near me in the front line. I saw the 
blood pouring from his wound and ordered him to go to the rear with his sound. 
He refused to go, saying "that he intended to stand to his Captain & colors 
until they went through the charge victoriously." But poor, noble brave man, he 
fell in a few minutes pierced with 12 bullet holes; he was literally shot to 
pieces.

During the charge I told SERGT. WM. BLAKE to remain at his post in the rear of 
his Co. to keep our own men from firing over their Comrades in the front line, 
but when his fierce EYE saw that the enemy were routed, he left his place and  
ressed forward beyond the front line of his Co. & Regt. Several paces, & noble 
and bravely stood 20 steps of the Enemy's line of destructive fire, firing his  
rusty rifle unsheltered & unprotected, by trees or logs- until he was Shot dead 
in the head & arm. This is a sad blow to you & Mr. Blake, it is true, but you 
both should take consolation in the fact that they fell in a Noble Cause and 
that their fall was attended with such unflinching gallantry & bravery, that no 
blot or stain is left upon their brilliant records. I sent to MR. GRANT of 
Jacksonville, for publication a list of killed & wounded yesterday as far as I 
then knew. I will send another correct one the 1st opportunity. We whipped the 
enemy and completely
routed them; it was a glorious, glorious victory to us. The enemy is fast 
crossing the river at Chattanooga & our Army is pressing them. We have thus far 
captured 13,000 prisoners & they still come in. We are going right on now to 
Kentucky. My whole company acted very gallantly and bravely, but my loss is 
heavy. I lost 26 men in killed and wounded, I took 36 men into the fight and 
lost 26- SERT JNO. HAMILTON was killed when acting very bravely-- WARE, PALMORE 
& TEDDER, too were killed. All noble fellows. JNO BLAKE, WM. NORTON, BAUGH, 
BULLARD, BRADEN, WM. AND RILEY EUBANKS, GENTRY AB HITON, MILLER, MCDANIEL, POORE 
PESNELL, RIDDLE, SKELTON, SMITH, WISE, and SERGT. CORSSER (or COAKER) were all 
bravely discharging their duties.

I will write to MR. GREEN and the parents of all my heroic boys who were killed, 
the first opportunity. We are now in a moving condition. Show this letter to MR. 
BLAKE, MR. GREEN and all the friends of the company. LIEUT. HEFLIN of Handley's 
Co. is dead from a mortal wound.

I want to keep John's boy 'ZACK.' I will pay his wife good for him. Please 
secure him for me. I will keep him until I hear from - JOHN spoke of it before 
the battle and told me if he was unfortunately captured or killed I could keep 
him and  account to his wife for the hire.

Write me,
Your true friend in great haste,
JIM B. MARTIN

P.S. LIEUT. HARLAN and I will have no cook if the boy is taken.
MARTIN