Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee
13th April 1862
Dear Sister and all the folks at home,
I am now on picket guard, the sun shines hot upon me and I'm almost too lazy to
write a bit. But a gentleman from Lebanon just passed by and told me if I wanted
to send a letter he would take it right through. You have heard of the great battle
that came off here the 6th and 7th inst's. I did not get here in time to take any part
more than to follow the rebels about a mile as they retreated toward Corinth, Miss.
They threw a few shells over us which hurt no one as they burst high in the air above us.
We heard the firing Sunday morning and all day Sunday. We marched as fast as we could
to get to the scene of carnage and death. Sunday night we pulled off all our knapsacks
and extra baggage. Left them with the stragglers and came on marching the whole night in
drenching rain, blinded by the glare of the vivid lightning which played around us from sunset
till sunrise. We marched on till we came to Savannah, Tenn. Where we arrived at twelve Monday,
were there hurried on board the steamer Fanny Bullitt, and in hours time we were landed
at Pittsburg Landing, within two miles of where the battle was furiously raging. In less
than an hour Colonel (Acting Brig. Gen.)Wagner had our brigade, the 21st, in sight of the
enemy's flag, guns and men. We were in time to see two hundred of our men charge the rebel
battery and take it at the point of the bayonet. Our company was deployed as skirmishers,
and as we went through the woods in advance of the brigade we saw a regiment of Secesh cavalry
retreating as fast as they could. We stayed that night as we had been deployed, standing picket
in the drenching rain then falling. On all sides of us through the night we could see the dead bodies
of ours and of the rebels' soldiers, and it was truly horrifying to see it. But then we had already
had our eyes familarized to the ghastly sight of the dead and mangled on the bloody battlefield, they
being strewn all the way from the river, four miles distant. The sight of the dead bodies and wounded
soldiers was truly heart-rendering. Dead horses lay by hundreds all through the woods, and broken
artillery guns and caissons were to be seen everywhere. Our loss has been variously estimated
and as to its extent I can say nothing. It has not been so heavy in the loss of life as the rebel has.
Our soldiers have buried of them about six thousand men and they are still to be found lying in untold
numbers all through the woods. I think their loss is double ours at least. They took five of our
battiers, but we took all of them back and more too. Sunday night they had our men run back to the
landing, but owing to the timely arrival of McCook and Nelson's divisions of Buell's army
under Grant was saved. Yesterday I went over to see Jess and Annapolis boys in the 31st regiment;
they had been in the fight from beginning to ending, had fired about an average of 130 rounds of
ammunition at the rebels. Their Col. had been wounded, their Major Adjutant and Captain killed with
two priviates, and a number wounded. Among them Phines W. McKey shot through the wrist while lying on
his back loading his gun. Newt Encey had his canteen shot through and the skin knocked off his side with
a musket ball. Jess was all safe and sound and able to brag on the tall running he'd done when they had
to fall back. The boys are all in seeming good spirits, Phin was going to start home last night. Oh,
but this is a hot day. The stench off the battlefield is truly sickening. Our teams and tents are behind at
Savannah yet. I don't know but I suppose they will get here in a day or two more. We have been very cautious
since our arrival here, in anticipation of another attack. But I think that all such fears had as well be buried
in the dust for all future time. If they come again we will certainly annihilate them. I will say nothing to the
discredit of our troops, they in general behaved themselves with great gallantry. Some were taken by surprise and
found not ready. Of those, some ran in disorder, others did better by maintaining their ground. Some regiments were
cut all to pieces and taken prisoners. The 14th Iowa was nearly all made prisoners, also the 12th Michigan and the
25th Missouri. General Prentiss was wounded and taken prisoner. Colonel (Acting Brig. Gen.) W.W. LaWallace of
Illinois was killed. You can learn more of who was killed by the papers than I can tell you. We heard this morning that
McCellan had taken Yorktown and would now soon be in Richmond. General Hallack is here to take the field in person, and
we look for great events soon to crown the work of the Union Army. I want you to write to me as soon as you get this. Give
my best respects to all the friends. I haven't had a letter from any of you in over a month. I am in as good health as ever.
I will try and keep you posted as far as I know myself, if you will only write to me, direct to me at Savannah, Tenn.
All the boys send their best respects. *Written between the lines in pencil)
Dear Mollie-Here is a letter Ed sent us and it is alrady heavy enough. I will not put any more paper in it. I commenced school three months ago, have 21 scholars and wish you could see the house. I got a package of cotton seed George Lowry sent to me. I wish you were at home. Write soon. I don't like my school at all, if you come here; I may have left. If seems to me to be the worst neighborhood, even tough in that the girls swear like troopers. I don't know what you are going to do for shoes. Pa says he has no money for you even at home. You could mend a pair or tow of shoes. I have no time to write any more and I don't suppose you can read this.
Sallie Write to Ed and to me too. S.
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