Macoupin County Illlinois, Civil War Letters
©1998 RindyFuchs


both newspaper articles contributed by RindyFuchs
Thank you, Carolynn Bettis for xeroxing.


MACOUPIN MEN AT SHILOH

Letter #1
Pittsburgh Tennessee April 10th 1862
My Dear Wife,

Our regiment is cut all to pieces. We went into the fight with 546 men rank and file and lost 224 killed wounded and missing very near half we had that went into the fight. Col. Logan is slightly wounded in the shoulder. Col.Rossis mortally wounded having received seven wounds. The Maj. was thrown from his horse at the first fire disabling him so much that he didn't get back during the fight. Which lasted two days and nights I was the only mounted officer that escaped being wounded and I made a very narrow escape for I received five balls in; the breast of my coat. I don't know how it happened that none of them wounded me....
James Drish, Adj., 32nd IL

Letter #2
I am not, like many, disposed to pick flaws in the bearing of any one, no matter who, who stood before the fire of Sunday and Monday; personally modesty forbids saying much, but I assure you I took every advantage of trees and stumps that had not a preemption right already settled on it that came my way...I suppose you would like me to tell how I felt; and though I am not prepared to say I was 'skeered,' I was not altogether as steadyhanded as I am just know...I feel no curiosity to witness such another scene...
Hal (14th IL) to Kimball, April 27,1862 in the Carlinville "Free Democrat" May 8th, 1862

Letter #3
Just before 4 o'clock we...were fully engaged when the whole left of our lines gaveway, and came running in wild confusion towards the landing. Directly we were assailed on the left flank and rear and such a stampede was never seen since the memorable Bull Run affair, which was brought to my mind by hearing the enemy call out at the top of their voices, "Bull's Run! Bull's Run! Many threw away their arms and fled; some stuck to their arms but could not be rallied. And some brave fellows rallied at the first call. I never had any conception of what an army in a stampede looked like until then. Two or three regiments from our left came dashing in pellmell. Artillery teams came crashing through. I stopped for a moment to call to the boys around me, and the halt came near costing me dearly, for it was with the greatest exertion that I could keep a team of artillery horses from dashing over me. One of our Co. was knocked down and run over, but not much hurt. I got together some 18 or 20 of my Co. and with Lieut. Eastham rallied nearly as many more. Col Hall came up with the balance of the Companies with one or two exceptions, and ordered a halt. Then the 14th again fell in and was the first to form in the line spoken of as forming half a mile from the landing. And now the first day's fight was over...
Capt. A. C. Cornman, Co.C14th IL, April 22nd, 1862. Carlinville "Free Democrat" May 1 1862.


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(© 1998 RindyFuchs)