Civil War Letters, Macoupin County Illinois 22 Jun 1998
Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives ©1998 Rindy Fuchs

Civil War Letters

both articles contributed by Rindy Fuchs
Thank you, Carolynn Bettis for xeroxing.

MACOUPIN MEN AT SHILOH

Letter #1
Pittsburgh Tennessee April 10th 1862

My Dear Wife, 

Our regiment is cut all to pieces. We went into the fight with 546 men rank and 
file and lost 224 killed wounded and missing very near half we had that went into 
the fight. Col. Logan is slightly wounded in the shoulder. Col.Ross is mortally 
wounded having received seven wounds. The Maj. was thrown from his horse at 
the first fire disabling him so much that he didn't get back during the fight. Which 
lasted two days and nights I was the only mounted officer that escaped being 
wounded and I made a very narrow escape for I received five balls in; the breast 
of my coat. I don't know how it happened that none of them wounded me....
James Drish, Adj., 32nd IL

Letter #2
I am not , like many,disposed to pick flaws in the bearing of any one,no matter 
who ,who stood before the fire of Sunday and Monday; personally modesty 
forbids saying much, but I assure you I took every advantage of trees and stumps 
that had not a preemption right already settled on it that came my way...I 
suppose you would like me to tell how I felt; and though I am not prepared 
to say I was 'skeered,' I was not altogether as steadyhanded as I am just know...I 
feel no curiosity to witness such another scene...Hal (14th IL) to Kimball,April 
27,1862 in the Carlinville "Free Democrat" May 8th, 1862

Letter #3
Just before 4 o'clock we...were fully engaged when the whole left of our lines 
gave way, and came running in wild confusion towards the landing. Directly we 
were assailed on the left flank and rear and such a stampede was never seen since 
the memorable Bull Run affair, which was brought to my mind by hearing the 
enemy call out at the top of their voices, "Bull's Run! Bull's Run! Many threw 
away their arms and fled; some stuck to their arms but could not be rallied. And 
some brave fellows rallied at the first call. I never had any conception of what an 
army in a stampede looked like until then. Two or three regiments from our left 
came dashing in pell mell. Artillery teams came crashing through. I stopped for a 
moment to call to the boys around me, and the halt came near costing me dearly, 
for it was with the greatest exertion that I could keep a team of artillery horses 
from dashing over me. One of our Co. was knocked down and run over, but not 
much hurt. I got together some 18 or 20 of my Co. and with Lieut. Eastham 
rallied nearly as many more. Col Hall came up with the balance of the Companies 
with one or two exceptions, and ordered a halt. Then the 14th again fell in and 
was the first to form in the line spoken of as forming half a mile from the landing. 
And now the first day's fight was over...Capt. A. C. Cornman, Co.C 14th IL, 
April 22nd, 1862. Carlinville "Free Democrat" May 1 1862.


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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Rindy Fuchs.
(© 1998 Rindy Fuchs)