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Latest revision as of 12:32, 16 August 2017
This transcription has not been verified by Special Collections Research Staff. Please also consult images of the document.
[Kinston?] [N.C.?] March 17th/62
My dear [Unkle?],
I only write a few
lines to assure you all of my safety
& that we have been whipped most
confoundedly & all feel rather humili
ated, but not by any means subdued.
Our regiment, it is admitted, fought
splendidly & only retreated when order-
ed; but two regiments on our right
gave way & ran like good fellows;
the Yankees then poured in by thou-
sands & came down on our flank.
6 of our companies charged upon them
& drove them back in the greatest con
fusion, & I think from all accounts
must have slaughtered a great many,
as it is said that the trenches were
filled with their bodies. Our own men
then fell back into their places but
the reserve of the Yankees was brought
up, & came marching down the trenches
--on our rear, overpowering the [right? regmt?]
which was ordered to fall back.
I was stationed at [Latham's?] Batte-
ry & commanded the left platoon of
our company. My Captain commanded
the right on the right of the battery.
At the gun where I was there were
fifteen men killed & [12? 2?] horses killed
shot down. Captain Latham was the
bravest man I ever saw; he fired his
gun every time himself, & for the last
half hour of the fight had only 2 men
at his gun; he was shot five times him
self but was as cool as a cucumber &
fired 147 rounds.
We were exposed to this fire
for [5?] 1/2 hours, but our breast works
were a complete protection. Our regt lost
only 12 killed & fifty or 60 wounded.
We fell back in perfect order & formed
our line 150 yds from the trenches
while the rascals were just pouring
into them & reported to the General
that we were ready for any order,
he then told us to fall back & cover
the retreat. While standing there my
Captain was shot but not seriously
hurt. We retreated in very [common?]
time 7 in perfect order, our company
forming the rear guard, burnt the
bridges after us & brought in all
the straglers [sic] from the other [regt? regts?] &
two pieces of artillery that we saved.
We had a most a most [sic] horrible march
of 42 miles to this place & are all foot-
sore & wearied & I am almost ashamed
to say safe, but I don't think we have
ever been frightened yet & were per-
fectly ready to do anything that the
General saw fit to order. I hope & trust
it may be the last retreat that I am
ever engaged in.
My love to you all
[T. G.?] Wmson