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https://micivilwar.com/authors/franklin-elbridge/
Regiment: 5th Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: George B. McClellan, Hiram G. Berry, Philip Kearny, Winfield Hancock
Camp on the road between
Baltimore Crossroads + bottom bridge
Saturday morning May 24
th 1862
Dr Father For over 2 weeks
we had been without hearing any
thing from home but this mornings
mail did not disappoint us
as usual for it brought us
3 letters. 2 from you + one
from Susan. Our last was
written at St Johns Dated May 17
We came from Baltimore Cross
roads which is 5 or 6 west of New
Kent Court House yesterday P.M.
We are about 5 miles from the
cross roads. We expect to again
go on this A.M. how soon
we do not know may be before
I can finish this letter
We are glad that you have
got your house up I hope you
will get in it soon
Our wounds have now healed
+ we consider ourselves as
well as before the battle
The country between Williams
burg + here is the most
beautiful I have ever seen
Beautiful rolling land,
roads shaded by trees, nice
buildings surrounded by
ornamental trees, pleasant
lawns, + cool refreshing sprungs
at no place have we halted
by the road but what we have
found springs close at hand
affording drink for both man +
beast. But how war has injured
this country. There is nothing
to show for a fence but the post
holes where it once stood
The rebel army has been equally
as bad as ours in making
fire wood of fences. Yesterday a
man was in our Camp hunting
for a runaway negro who he said
but a short time since he
was offered $1000 for. Finding
that the slave hunter had
no writen permission to visit
our camp he was reported to
the Officer of the guard who
immediately had him arrested
+ he will probably be detained
untill any information concern
ing our movements that he may
have obtained, will be of no value
to the enemy. The Negro together
with his brother, who belonged to a
man in the same neighborhood
are now in the 72
nd Regt Tenn. Vol
I think that $1000 is about
as good as lost.
At last the papers have noticed
the last of our being in the battle
The NY Times of the 19
th gives
a truthful account of the battle
the only true account I have
seen. It speaks in particular
of our Regt + the part it took
in the battle + finds that
our Regt alone lost nearly
twice as many in killed +
wounded as the Division, comm-
anded by the “Gallant” the “Superb”
Hancock. In a dispatch of
Gen McClellan’s he says
“Kearney’s Division arrived in time
to restore the fortunes of the day.”
The New York Herald in speaking
of this Dispatch says
The particular brigade which rend-
ered this eminet service was
that of Gen Berry” Our brigade
is the 3
rd brigade in the Division
+ our place is in the rear of the
other 2 brigades, but we outstriped
them on the march + got ahead
+ were the first on the field
Had it not been for the energy of
Gen Berry + his Aid- Capt Smith – we
would not have been in the battle
+ sit was for the best. We are glad we
were in the action which resulted
so favorably to our arms.
you wish to know what has become
of Lieut O’Donnall. He is now I
believe in Saginaw. When the
Department of Kansas was broken
up he retired from the service altho-
ugh he could not have been deprived
of his position as Captain in the
army. Lieut Gunning was well
liked by the Co Every man in it
was his friend. He was a military
man + had he lived would have
made his mark in the world
about 25 years of age. A fine looking
Noble bearing man quick in movement
strong in limbs. I think no man
in the Regt could successfully
compete with him in strength
cool + courageous with the blood
of traitors Foremost in the charge
he drew not his revolver but with
his sword + strong arm not the
enemy with death dealing blows
His conduct before the charge I
cannot forget. While kneeling
or laying down to escape the enemys
balls which were continually passing
over our heads + also to give us a better
view of the rebels under the cloud of
smoke the Lieut was a few feet
to our rear also kneeling down
a musket ball cut a lock from
his hair, he smilingly pointed to it
+ said “As much danger down as
up” + cooly rose to his feet
His orders “Make every shot tell”
was not unheeded by us + with our
guns to our faces we closely watched
for the sight of a rebel under the
cloud of smoke. Almost his last
words to us just before the charge
were “Company C, you are repon
sible for the safety of those Colors.
Never let the enemy possess them”
Alas, he fell, how deeply we mourn
his loss. If he was now alive
he would probably be our Capt
Much as we wished to send
his remains home we could not
No suitable coffin could be procured
+ on moved the army.
You speak of Lieut Blackman
Quartermaster of the Regt.
I have on one or 2 occasions
spoken to him concerning his
relatives in Greenbush or he has
to me. He ranks as 1
st Lieut
but I think get extra pay at
least he ought to for his duties
of seeing to the provisioning +
clothing of the Regt. as well as getting
feed for the horses + teams of
the Regt. keeps him very busy
When we march he is sometimes
miles in the rear with the trains
which he has to oversee. His is
no enviable position I assume you.
I believe I am getting
in the habit of writing long
letters perhaps too long but
I like to get long letters from
home + knowing you
anxiously look for letters from
us. I am sure to write all
that will interest you +
probably some that does not
If it was calculated to move to
day the rain has postponed it
We have pitched our tents and
the rain pours down but we are
secure under our little tents
Please find how much is yet to
be paid on my land. Interest
and all + inform me.
Your Affectionate Son
Elbridge Franklin
John Franklin
