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Regiment: 2nd Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Camp of 2nd Mich. Cav.
near Mothers Ford East Tenn.
Feby 11th 1864
E P Potter Esq
Dear Sir
Yours of the 20th alt was rec’d last
evening. I should have another to you long eve this
but we have been almost wholly without mail facilaties
since the affair of Dec. 24
th untill within the past few
days. I have written to Capt Johnston or Major Dickey
at every opportunity and have explained fully to them the
little I could learn from time to time regarding Charley
under the supposition that with the poor facilaties for
writing they would be better able to decipher my
letters and explain to you there one unaccustomed
to my writing would to read them
But as all my letters may not have reached
them I will endeavor to repeat to you every thing I
have learned regarding Charleys fate. I have made
dilligent enquires evry where. but have been unable
to learn any thing definite except that his gun was
not brought in at least I cannot find the gun (which I
could Identify by the chamber) nor the man who brought it in I found
a gun belonging to another company which was brought in
We had four men missing two of them got in two days
after having been cut off in the retreat and escaping
by concealment. A German
[ ? ] from Marshall and Charley
are yet to hear from, I was not dismounted during
the fight was in charge of the horses The boys had a
long race, first in pursuing and then in
[ ? ]
they came back much scattered and completely used up
with running. The Rebs were within pistol shot before
all reached their horses..Charley alone wore his Over Coat
which must have encumbered him considerably. A member
of Co. L (Capt Ketcham) who was cut off and did not get in
for several days. asserts positively that he saw Charley
and Keemes togeather after they were seperated from
the balance of the command and sometime after Charley
was reported to be wounded.
From the 14
th to the evening of the 17
th of Jany we were at
Dandred but the enemy held the ground of the
[ ? ]
fight We skirmished with them heavily every day but
they were not driven back enough to allow a formal
investigation I learned by Citizens of one of our
men being left at a house near the ground but
could get no definite descriptions nor learn how
badly he was wounded. Another man was reported to
have died of wounds at another house but I did not succeed in getting
a description of him. Maj. Scranton of our Regt. has taken
some pains to investigate the matter and he inclines to
the opinion that the man who is there wounded is Charley
Some of our boys thought they saw Charley fall. but
on questioning them I find they are not at all certain
But a Recruit belonging to the next company to ours (Co. H.)
came up during the retreat and told our boys
that one of our men was shot (he described him as a curly
haired Dutchman) as we had no man answering that
description and Charley was missing, somebody had been
seen to fall down near where Charleys place in the line
was. So the report soon assured
[ ? ] and came in
that he was shot. If he is a prisoner either injured
or uninjured, you will probably hear from him as soon
as we can, but I dont think they have been able to get
their prisoners through to Richmond yet and I dont suppose
we shall hear from them while here. We are now in
the Little Tennisee South of Knoxville and some distance from
Dandred all of that country being occupied by Longstreet
But you can rest assured that I shall use every endeavor to
learn Charleys fate, such soldiers are missed to much from
the company for as soon to forget our duty to them and
their friends. The next mail we received after the fight brought
to Hd Qrs Charleys Commission Which I suppose has been returned
to you,
Charley was the last of the first lot Homer boys left with us. We have
had pretty hard usage since we came into this Department
From Dec. 20
th to Feb 1
st we drew no rations except such as the
country afforded usually one pound of poor flour and a little bacon
or fresh meat per day. Sometimes we failed to get that even,
Oh this inadequate feed we have been kept in the face of a superior
force with whom we have had almost a score of Skirmishes
two of them being battles of considerable
[ ? ] The first
one Dec 29
th was at Mossy Creek, where our Brigade supported
by a Brigade of Infantry (only one Regt of which was engaged) repulsed
a heavy attack. The next fight of importance was Jany 27
th
near Severeville when both Brigades of our Division were
engaged. We fought all day against a much superior force
which we routed and chased untill darkness saved them
we captured over 100 prisoner 2 guns 2flag, &c. Co. M had been
verry fortunate since Capt Johnston left having lost no men
untill that day I took 15 into action with me of which 2 were killed
1 missing and 1 slightly wounded.
Since the 1
st inst we have been having a little rest. The want of
subsistance I think will preclude the possabilaty of a sufficient
force concentrating here to drive Longstreet out unless his
source of supplied fails him, also.
There is a Box for Charley at the express office at Nashville
which I suppose will be solde unless you order it returned
pretty soon. There is also some letters which I will remail to
you as soon as I get to our company disk where I have sent
them for safe keeping.
Lieut Darrow his Brother and Agnew I believe are yet at
Nashville. If you cannot decipher this let me know and
I will write you as soon as I can
[ ? ] draw
paper and a better writing desk than Mother Earth.
Let me hear from you again and should there be a manner
in which I can serve you in this case please let know
Yours Very Truly
H M Hempstead
Co M 2 Regt Mich Cav
Via Knoxville Ten
