Wayne County NcArchives History - Letters .....Samuel P. Collier Letter September 21, 1864
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Guy Potts http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00017.html#0004214 April 18, 2015, 2:19 am

Line of battle near Strasburg
Sept 21st 1864

My Darling Parents,

I have been spared once more. On the morning of the 19th inst we left our camp 
six miles this side of Bunker Hill and came on in within two miles of Winchester 
where we found the Yankees drawn up in line of battle and advancing very rapidly 
towards our rear. Genl Rodes immediately formed line of battle and commenced to 
move forward the sharp shooters in advance. We (the sharpshooters) moved forward 
at a run to a piece of woods a few hundred yards in advance or rather forward 
when we ran into a strong line of battle of Yankees, who were pouring a 
tremendous fire into a brigade to our left. We halted until the line of battle 
came up when we all charged and drove the Yanks about half a mile when they being 
reinforced charged us in turn and drove us back two or three hundred yards. 
Cousin John Cobb was wounded just as we began to fall back. I did not see him 
when he was struck, but as I was going back across the filed I saw three men 
carrying him off. One of the men had him on his back when I ran to him and had 
him laid on a tent and we four carried him off the field. We all came very near 
being captured. I never saw minnie balls and grape shot rain so in all my life. 
Well we succeeded in getting him to the field hospital when Dr Cobb came up and 
examined his leg which was broken just above the ankle. He seemed very cheerful 
the whole time.

Well after we got him in the ambulance we started back to the line which we 
reached in safety. After being in there a few minutes we heard very heavy firing 
in our rear. Col Brown of the 1st NC Regt but now commander of the Division 
sharpshooters, called for them and carried us at a double quick to where our 
cavalry were fighting both Yankee infantry and cavalry. They came pouring down 
upon us like a thousand bricks which of course we could not stand. We fell back 
when everything at this moment began to move, waggons, ambulances and every thing 
mixed up together.

The whole face of the earth was literally alive with rebels running for their 
lives. I would run a while and stop and laugh at others and think what fools we 
were making of our selves, when some shell would come tearing among us and every 
thing would start off again, I would be among them. I never ran so fast in all my 
life. To come out and tell the truth I saw from those miles the other side of 
Winchester to New Town a distance of 10 miles and I can assure you I had company 
from Brig Genl down to privates. But there is one thing that I did not do that 
was to throw away my gun and things. I always hold on to them let what may 
happen. It was equal to the 1st Manassas stampede. I never saw any thing like it 
before. They never captured any of our wagons or ambulances. That was the only 
difference.

Cousin John was left in Winchester as he could not be brought off. We lost 49 in 
all from the Regt & a Yankee gave me a watch for a drink of water. I will tell 
you about it. As I was walking along firing one who was wounded in the side asked 
me for a drink of water which I could not refuse a wounded man if he was a 
Yankee. After I gave it to him he pulled out his watch and said "God bless you! 
Take this". I told him no but he insisted and I took it. He was quite young and 
very intelligent. He told me his name was Caine and that he was from Penn. When 
we fell back I thought I would passed by and see him, but he was dead having been 
struck by another ball. Poor boy I could not help but filling sorry for him.

As I have no more paper I will close and finish in my next in a day or two.

Love to all. Write Soon.

Son Saml.


Additional Comments:
N C Archives
Samuel P. Collier Papers
PC 416

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