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Regiment: U.S. Volunteers Birge’s Sharpshooters
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Corinth, Miss.
October 7, 1862
Dear Sister I received your
ever welcome letter and was glad to read
a letter from you but was sorry to hear
that Mother and Sena was so unwell I
hope when you get these few lines they
will find you all on the gain. O Dorcas
We have had a hard Battle here but we
have gained the Victory We are well and
tough as a bear Pros has gone with the Reg
to a place about 90 miles to fight they
Want Ros to fight any I don’t believe
for we have Demoralized and Scatered
the rebles in every Directions We are doing
Well here in the West. Our cavalry are
bringing them in from every Directions
they don’t have any arms Old Price told
them to throw away everything and take care
of themselves and scatter in every direction
And they have Done So and our army
is Catching them in the Woods all over we
fought like tigers there was 4 killed in our
Company that I know of and two is
missing One of them Was Mortally Wounded
and We put him in a Ambulance and we
can’t find him no Where the other We can’t
hear of Since the Battle I expect he is dead
I tell you it looked hard to see the Boys
that I know laying With their heads cut
With a Bullet there was one Wounded very
bad they hit my left shoulder with a
Spent Bullet I tell you it hurt me some
it Burnt for a good While but it feels better
I do Duty yet it Bruised it Some +
one went through my canteen by my
Side and one struck my leg but the
force of it was most gone
I have Writen to Seth I will Write
all the Particulars as fas as I know as
quick as I can get time. I am on guard
I expect to Stay here until the Reg. gets
back Fred Hill was killed and James
Balfour, the one that I enlisted under
they got into town but they had to give
Back on account of our artillery the rebles
Was Cut Down like hail they was fed
on gun Powder and Whiskey they fought
Well but they have Played out I tell you
we have got them Surrounded and they
are gave up. John shot a major and
got two Revolvers Worth 50 dollars and
a nice Sword and the nicest cap that I
ever saw. He told him to halt as he was
Retreating and he wouldn’t, so John Shot
him and enough O it was hard to See so many killed
and to see them throwed into a hole with
a Blanket. The nigeroes are burying them
Our men are Buried Deasent I don’t
Believe that the army will have to Stay here
long for we are Doing Well here in
the West. I hope that Mother + Sena
will get along for You know that I don’t
like to hear that any of folks are sick nor any
of my friends. O how I wish that
I was there to help take care of them
O Dorcas, take care of them but I like
to be in the army if it was not for my
friends I Would Stay with the Regulars
but you need not worry about me for
I Shant stay any longer than any other
Right now Dorcas Write and let me know
all the news. I lost all my Postage
Stamps but I guess I can find some if
I can’t, I must Send it Without but
I don’t want to. I must close so Good
Bye from your Brother Gilbert Bowe.
Give my leave to all the folks, espesially
Father and Mother. Kiss Sturtz and Susy
for me and Give my Respects to all the Friends if any.
