Click here for this soldier’s biography:
https://micivilwar.com/authors/franklin-elbridge/
Regiment: 5th Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: George B. McClellan
Baltimore Md
July 4th 1862
Dear Father.. The 86
th anniversary of our
National Independence, the Fourth of July has
come but to me it is a gloomy 4
th such
as I never have before spent + such as I hope
never to spend again. I cannot complain
of my own situation which will not allow
me to pass a merry holliday, indeed it would
be the happiest holliday I ever passed if the
news from the army which I so lately left
was the reverce of what it is. If I had all
‘the freedom that I could wish + all the pleasures
that this City can afford it would not be
a happy 4
th! The bad news from the army
of the Potomac may not reach you in time
to prevent your enjoying this National Holliday
That the grand army of McClellans has
been defeated with a loss of 15,000 killed +
wounded + 5,000 prisoners are facts
painful to think of. It might have been
worse that army is not annihilated + with
being hurriedly sent to him he may hold
the ground he now occupies. By this
repulse the war will inevitably be prolonged
+ it may be the means of bringing on
a war with European motives
I cannot help feeling sorrowful, so
many are now suffering from wounds
I among these are no doubt
some of my friends, comrades, + may be
-My Brother
[ ? ] Perhaps you know where Luther
is. A letter dated the 13
th was the last
I have heard from him. I have writen
to the 1
st Sergt since I have been here
but the letter probably got there at the there
was fighting. I shall write again as
soon as the army gets quiet. If I knew
that Luther had got to a hospital as he
expected I should not be uneasy in the
least. You have heard from him no doubt
since I have. He might be in one of
the hospitals of this City + I would not
know it. I must wait + hope for the best
I have writen to Newport News for my letters
+ so I shall expect to hear from you by
sunday next. If you see a list of the
killed + wounded in the 5
th Regt please
furnish me with the number of killed +
wounded in the Regt. The names of officers
killed + wounded + the names of the killed
+ wounded in Co. C. I understand that
many of our sick + wounded fell into
the hands of the enemy. Yesterday a boat
had (300) of wounded arrived at Baltimore
+ were put in the different hospital
9 of them were brought into this ward
They were wounded on the 27
th (Friday)
They came here by way of James River.
I cannot help but think of 4
th of July
one year ago. How I would like to spend
another such a day but I may never.
Since this reverse to our arms I am
anxious to get back to the Regt as soon as
possible If Luther has fallen, a spirit
of revenge must control me if I again get
into an engagement. I am getting
well fast. I can almost walk In a
week I think I can get around without
much dependence on anything but my own
legs. I am anxious for that time to come
waiting so anxiously for news from home
+ from Luther by way of you Yet I shall
write to the Co officers for information as
soon as I think the matters are so that
I can get an answer.
It will be 5 weeks tomorrow since I have been
wounded yet I am concious that it will be a
longer time before I shall be returned for duty
While I write these lines seated on my cot
bed, I am but 4 feet from a man who is
dying. He is Color Sergeant of the 23
rd Tenn
Regt wounded at the battle of Fair Oaks
his wife has been with him the last 10
days. I think he cannot live till night
He lays on the next bed to me. It is death
+ misery on all sides.
It is not yet noon + I know not
whether we are to have an extra dinner or
not. A flag waves from the building. Torpedoes
+ fire crackers are heard in the street but
here in the hospital everything goes on as
usual. Thousands are passing the 4
th as
they little thought a few days ago. O when will
this war end I hope not till this rebellion
is completely crushed till our brave soldiers
who have fallen in the defence of their
country are revenged If I had a thousand
lives before towards the enemy as I do now
300,000 more men have been called on I wish the
whole North would spring to arms + sweep the
rebellious states if necessary from existence.
No more at present
Your Affectionate Son
Elbridge Franklin
John Franklin
Gen. McClellan always
fought on the defensive
He never followed up a
victory. He was afraid to
risk a fight so did not
commence an engagement
Many lives were lost to his
army by his tactics
Elbridge Franklin
