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https://micivilwar.com/authors/crawford-john-gault/
Regiment: 2nd Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: Abraham Lincoln, Braxton Bragg, Don C. Buell, William S. Rosecrans, William T. Sherman
Head Qrs. 2d Batt. 2d Mich. Cav.
New Haven, Ky. Jan. 11, 1863
Cousin James:
Seated upon this beautiful Sabbath afternoon all alone
within my tent, trying to pass away the time the thought
occurred to my mind that I would do something I never did
before in my life, “to wit,” write Cousin James a letter and
see how mad he would be at my imprudence. Trusting you will
excuse the liberty I take, I will give you an account of the
war for the Union in Kentucky.
I will not attempt to give my account of my experience
in the great Union army during the first year of my
enlistment. Our regiment, after spending the summer in
Miss., was in Sept. last ordered to Louisville, Ky. We took
the advance in the pursuit of Bragg; skirmished most
every day with his rear guard until we arrived near
Perryville. He intended to make a stand. We had a desire to
advance, but the bursting shell told us Bragg objected, so
we waited until morning. In the morning we tried to proceed,
but soon found out that we had a “right smart” job on our
hand. Our regt. dismounted (for we are armed with Colt’s
revolving rifles) and drove the Rebels from the woods, thus
having
the credit of being the first in
that bloody contest. We were in the fight all day, and the
last to leave the field. I have read the description of
battle, but nothing in print can compare with what a man
sees who is upon the field. My duties called me
to all parts of the battleground. And what a sight; human
being piled upon each other, some without heads or arms,
others town and mangled beyond description. The groans of
the dying, the mournful, agonizing groans of wounded horses
was enough to make a heart sicken, and the bravest turn pale
to see the sacrifice of his fellow men. And how sacrificed?
By the treachery, the treason of Gen. Buell, who refused to
send in reinforcements which he held in sight of the
battlefield, but would not listen to the appeals of generals
and colonels, and even privates, to go to the aid of those
brave comrads who had fought against great odds all day.
Had he allowed his army to have come to our relief, the
result would have been the capture of Bragg and his whole
army. And by doing that, would have saved Rosecrans
the trouble of fighting him again in Tenn. Buell was relieved,
greatly to the relief of the officers and soldiers which composed
his army. He may be acquitted and restored to his comman, but
never will
he get his old army to bear arms under him.
Our principal attention has been called of late to
Morgan and his band of robbers. Twice since
Christmas have we engaged him, with but the loss of one man
killed. He, I think, has made his last raid into Kentucky,
for in his last trip he spared neither friend or foe, but
plundered all alike. Not even was the dresses and jewelry of
the ladies exempt. He accomplished but little beside
destroying the bridge upon the Louisville and Nashville
Railroad. His object doubtless was to hold the Army of
Kentucky from reinforcing Rosecrans, in hopes that Bragg;s
army could whip him. But Bragg found he was not contending
with his brother, Buell, but was fighting a true, loyal,
energetic soldier, one who has more love for his country
than for the spoils of office. And the result is Morgan lost
a large portion of his army, and Bragg is fleeing before the
grand Army of the Cumberland. Kentucky is free again of
armed traitors. Tennessee is kept out of the Union by armed
force. Kentucky is kept in by the same means. She has some
true, loyal men, but as a state she cannot be trusted. She
is Union with the negro, disunion without it; loyal when it
is for their interest, disloyal when it takes hold of
Kentucky’s “God” their slaves. Better in my judgment
(yet I may err) for the cause of the Union were such states
all out of the Union, that they
might be treated as their conduct merits.
What do you think “Old Abe” I glory in his iron
will not to back down one jot, or little from what he told
the Rebels he would do unless they returned to the
protection of the Old Flag. We have now an object to fight
for. God is on our side. Victory after victory now salutes
our ears. Rosecrans has completely routed Bragg.
Crazy Sherman has opened the Miss. The Southern
Confederacy is cut in twain. Soon will it be cut again. And
then tell me where can the Rebels find hope of success?
Victory will soon be ours, the Union will be safe, and above
all, the damnable institution which has
caused all our trouble will be forever removed from this
free America. And then what happy, free, united,
powerful nation this will be. Monarchs will tremble at our
power, the whole world will look to America and exclaim,
“behold a free people,” and a republic that can stand the
shock of revolution. A government founded within the heart
of every subject. And all the powers of Hell cannot prevail
against it.
Cousin James, does not the wickedness of the slave
power make you hate slavery? Can you not give thanks that we
elected a man for president who had the courage to strike
the bonds from off four millions of human beings, and remove
forever the stain and reproach upon
our banne, and
stop forever the howlings of other nations. “That whilst we
boasted of our freedom, we were the only nation in the wold
that tolerated slavery.”
I know you will think as I do. You could not help it
had you seen what I have; not so much the suffering of
slaves, but the ignorance of the poor whites who are
degraded below the black, and by that means been led
by defeated, ambitious politicians to unite and try to pull
down, overthrow, utterly destroy the best government ever
vouchsafed to man. Let us hope and pray that the end of this
contest is not far distant, and that lasting peace may
return to our destructed country. Then, and not till then,
will we meet and rejoice over the victory of the federal
arms. And not like Napoleon, rush on from conquest to
conquest, or like Ceasar, lament because we have conquered
so much, but like Washington, we will rejoice in our
victories and be satisfied.
But I am reminded that my letter is getting lengthy,
and for fear you will think it too much of a task to answer,
will speedily close. I have enjoyed the best of health
since I have been in the army. have often wished my
duties called me to where I could meet my old friends from
Cakhim, for I know that she has done her part well.
And those who have left their homes and
all they hold dear to fight for the honor of that old banner
under which we have so often met to celebrate the day on
which our fathers declared the colonies free and
independent, will when they meet the enemies of our country,
sustain nobly the names of those from who they descended.
For what did they fight but to give us a free home, and to
establish for us a government in which every subject is
king. And shall we refuse to fight to maintain and transmit
unimpaired to our descendants and to all future generations
a government under which we had become so prosperous and
happy? May all of Cakham’s sons be spared to meet again
under the Star Spangled Banner, and rejoice together for the
downfall of treason and traitors, and the restoration of the
Union upon a truer and firmer basis of liberty to all
nations, races, and color. Remember me to all my friends,
for I have but few. All our friends in Mich. are well.
hear from them full as often as from Mass. My love to all
your family. Answer this if you can find the time for it
does a soldier good to know he is not forgotten by his
friends at home.
Excuse this uninteresting letter, and remember me as
ever,
Your affectionate cousing,
Lieut. John G. Crawford
Adjutant, 2d Batt., 2d Mich Cavalry
New Haven, Kentucky
To: Jas. Packard, Cakham, Mass.
