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Regiment: 1st Michigan Light Artillery
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: John Tyler Morgan, William Nelson, Mahlon Dickerson Manson
Head Quarters Louisville KY
Sept 11th 1862
Dear Hattie.
No doubt you wonder at my
long silence but it has been unavoidable.
I have just returned from an expedition after
Col Morgan the Celebrated
[ ? ] Ranger but
could not get up with him.
Whilst stopping at
[ ? ] to rest the
men and horses I wrote a few lines to you
but dont think you will get it until after
this one cause to hand for Morgan burnt the
Rail Road Bridge and cut off all communica
tion with Louisville.
I have forgotten where my last letter that ou read
was written from but think it was from Lexington
and if I recollect rightly but a brief one at that.
Now for a brief review of events for the past few
weeks. Friday August 23
rd at night marched to Nicholas
ville in command of our section stayed there until
Sunday 24
th and then recd orders to go to Richmond
traveled all night and arrived then the 25
th at
eleven o’clock found there Lieuts Hab and Andrews
with the rest of the Battery but they would not let us
go together having attached them to the 2
nd Brigade
and I to the 1
st Brigade.
The 26
th I was ordered to march and was stationed
with the advance past of the Army two miles
in advance of beyond Richmond. Here I met Lieut E. O.
Lauphere with part of a Battery and we camped
together. The 27
th a report came to Head Quarters
that the enemy were advancing upon us and
away we went to
[ ? ] them but they were
not to be found and we returned at night
Friday at the 29
th at noon another report came
that they were again advancing so we get ready
and marched out two miles and planted our
Battery with about ten thousand infantry to
support us. Here we waited about an hour when a large
body of Cavalry made their appearance ¾ of a mile off
and we opened fire upon them with good effect and
soon lent them to flight killing four or five
of them. We then advanced a mile and a half
to Rogersville and camped for the night laid
upon the ground holding our horses by the
bridle. At five o’clock the next morning the
picket guards commenced firing at each other
when Lieut Lauphere and I were ordered
forward with our guns. We advanced in a run
and about a mile when they suddenly opened
fire upon us from six or seven guns with deadly
effect. We at once formed into Battery ready for
action and in a few minutes were giving them
shot for shot. In this way we kept up on
Artillery fight for three hours each party now
and these shifting positives to
arrid get
[ ? ]
of range of the guns. About eight o clock Lieut
Hab came up with two
[ ? ] to our support
but had only fired a few rounds when their infant
ry made a charge and soon drove ours back
leaving our Artillery without any support and
we had to retreat they followed us closely for
a half mile and killed a number of our men
here we tried to plant our Battery but the coward
ly infantry would not stop and the bullets flew
so thick that we could not stand it and slowly
retreated. After a short time the firing almost
ceased and we again planted our guns but
the enemy had
[ ? ] themselves behind
the woods and hills and we could not see
them. Therefore to ascertain their whereabouts so
[ ? ] throw some shell at them I rode up on
three of the cowardly thieves
[ ? ]
aim at me from an old shanty a few hundred
yards off and the balls went whistling past
near enough for comfort but not to do any
damage I made them a
[ ? ] and
retreated down the hill out of sight.
Not liking the position we retreated back to
where we had first fired upon them them
day before and then planted the guns of
my section and Laupheres in the left of
the road and Lieuts Hab and Andrews on
the right each supported by two Regiments
of Infantry. Soon we saw their Artillery
advancing and fired upon them making it
rather troublesome for them to get into
[ ? ]
but they soon got ready
[ ? ] returned our
fire with good effect. This had continued
but a few minutes when their Infantry and
Cavalry came in view marching in full
force. We instantly turned some of our guns
to bear upon them and cut them up badly
I saw a number of our shot and shell tear
through their ranks with deadly effect but they
closed up steadily and I could not but admire
the promptness with which they filled up their
ranks and came on
as though to meet us.
They even got so close that their sharpshooters
began to pick of our Cannoniers when we tried
to have the Infantry who were lying behind a fence
in our rear come to our assistance but they fled
like so many scared sheep and again we even
forced to retreat about this time Lieut Andrews
who was in our right had one gun taken by
the enemy and then they were driven back
the whole Army again began a retreat and
formed in line of battle again on our camping
ground. Here we stayed about an hour waiting
for them to form and come up again when Gen
Page 5
Nelson came upon the field and took the
command not liking our position he ordered
us to retreat and form again within half a
mile of town. This we did. Herre I was left
[ ? ]
Lieuts Hab Andrews and Lauphere having gone
to the rear with all but two guns there being no
ammunition for the others I placed one H
[ ? ]
on the left wing in charge of Sergt Johnson and
took charge of the other in the right.
Here it was that Gen Nelson rode up and said
Lieut make every shot count I told him
I had but 27 rounds left well said he in his
rough style wait till the
[ ? ] Rebels get within
short range and then give them here another
oath came in but I will not repeat it.
So I waited and they soon came up and
attacked the left wing first and after a brief
resistance our men fell back. They then
attacked the crater and right wing and I
sat on my horse quietly watching their
[ ? ]
eats where they suddenly showed themselves
on our right flank and commenced a heavy
fire. Our infantry again ran back when I
ordered my boys
to fire and at it they went
giving them 19 out of the 27 shot by this time
they had got so close that I was fearful of
having my men all killed and even taken
and ordered them to hitch on the horses and
fall back just then a ball struck one of the
men killing him instantly. We however got
out of the way and came into town. There
I met Gen. Manson who paid me a very
gratifying compliment by saying that
the Artillery had done extremely well and
had the Infantry done half so well
we could have whipped them.
