Difference between revisions of ".MTY4Mw.MjcyMg"

Revision as of 14:09, 28 July 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