Greene County PA Archives News.....Wells, Greene Co. Lad, In The Late Battle In Missouri August 28, 1861
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Donald Buncie http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00034.html#0008389 February 12, 2023, 7:08 am

The Waynesburg Messenger: (Waynesburg, Greene County, Pa.) August 28, 1861
The Waynesburg messenger: (Waynesburg, Greene County, Pa.) August 28, 1861
A GREENE COUNTY LAD IN THE LATE BATTLE IN MISSOURI.
It will be seen, by the following letter, that Mr. Wm. H. Wells, formerly of
Waynesburg, and son to Col. Jno. H. Wells, was in the late Battle at Springfield.
Our knowledge of young Wells, who was a brother typo and office companion of ours
several years ago, assures us that he behaved himself well and valiantly in his
maiden battle, which is known to the country as having been a singularly obstinate
and bloody engagement:

CAMP NEAR ROLLA,
August 20, 1861.

Dear Ma:—On Saturday, August 10, a terrible battle was fought between the U. S.
forces under Gen. Lyon, and the rebels under Gen. McColloch. At the beginning of the
fight our forces numbered about five thousand, and that of the enemy from
twenty-five to thirty thousand. We attacked them at daylight, and after incessant
fighting for seven hours they left the field. Great God ! what a field it was. Over
seven thousand men lay dead and wounded, at the close of that bloody fight. Our
regiment, (the First Missouri,) opened the fight and whipped four picked regiments
of rebels before we got relief. One splendid regiment of Louisiana boys charged
gallantly. We engaged them without hesitation, and that night only twenty-one of the
poor fellows answered at the roll call. 
Our regiment lost near four hundred men. My own company, out of sixty-five men, lost
twenty-eight. The loss of our entire command was over two thousand. It fell to my
lot to be in the thickest of the fight, and you may rest assured I tried to do my
duty as a soldier. My comrades fell thick and fast around me, and their blood
stained my clothes, but through the providence of God I escaped unharmed.
Please direct to me, care Capt. Cole, Co. E., First Regiment Missouri Volunteers,
St. Louis, MO.
P. S. We are hourly expecting orders to proceed to St. Louis.		W. 

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