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Regiment: 5th Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: Hiram G. Berry, Philip Kearny
Camp at Williamsburg, Va
Wednesday May 7th /62
Dear parents The battle is over, the
enemy is badly whiped, & we are both here
alive but did not escape without injury
but our wounds are slight & in a
few days we will be able to again meet
the enemy if they again stand &
fight. Luther’s wound is from a buck
shot which raked the back of his neck
hitting one of the cords. It knocked
him down & paralyzed him for a
moment. Mine is a buck shot wound
in left breast also 4 other slight wounds
below by pieces of lead from a
musket ball which struck the
barrel of my gun cut it nearly half
in two, but cut the ball in pieces
which penetrated my clothes, only 4 pieces
went through my coat & 2 shirts all of which
I have extracted. The buck shot still
remains, the sergeons were so busy dressing
serious wounds that I would not
ask them to take it out & I shall always
carry it. I was fortunate in not
having my wound in a limb where
it would probably have disabled
me for some time. We both marched 4 miles
to day & joined the Regt. Luther’s wound
is the most disagreeable as it effects
the movements of his head
The particulars of the battle I will undertake
to give or so much as I know
Sunday at 6 ½ oclock we left our camp
before Yorktown & camped that night
2 miles this side of Barktown
Monday it rained nearly all day
In consequence of the rain we did not
leave camp till near 10 oclock when we
heard the booming of cannon ahead
We traveled steady through the rain &
the worst roads I ever saw till
after 2 oclock when we stopped, filled our
canteens, filled our knapsacks in to piled
& rested 20 minutes. One msan from
each Co was left to guard the baggage.
With the assurance from the Col that
we should have an opportunity of doing
credit to our beloved State we set out
at a rapid pace & was soon within
hearing of musketry. The rebels had
made a stand in a trench or rifle
pit which ran north & south on both
sides of the road through the woods but
near the cleared land in front of Williams
burg. We reached the battle field about
3 ½ oclock filed to the left (or south) marched
into the woods about 40 rods, halted
& faced the enemy with the rear rank in
front. The 37
th Regt filed in
behind us & kept during the action
about 6 rods in our rear the 2
nd Mich
was in the rear of the 37
th. The 3
rd Regt
was not in the fight. As soon as the
Regt in front of us (which had been
fighting some time & was considerably cut
up) could withdraw we advanced
about 6 rods, halted & then comenced
the fight, opposite us and to our right
no rebels were in the trench (the locality
of which we did not know) and all the
rebels in front of us were skirmishers,
behind trees. We had orders to shoot only
when we saw an enemy, but to our left
where the rebels were in force was one
continual discharge of musketry.
We remained here about 15 minutes
part of the time lyting down to escape
the balls, (no enemy being visible)
Then the column moved forward 6 or 8
rods halted & then the fighting commenced
in earnest. Col Terry was here
wounded in the foot & Beach took
command. Capt Sherlock was wounded &
retired. We fought here about ¾ of an hour
the right wing doing most of the fighting
(The right wing was to our left we being rear rank
in front) Co’s A. F. & D. suffered most
here & their ranks were dreadfully thinned.
Thus far Co C had but one man wounded
& Co H none. Suddenly the enemy
appeared in force in front of us &to
our right in the rifle pit
continued from the other sheet
The enemy was not over 10 rods distant
& at their appearance we rose & fired
a volley. The heads & shoulders of the
rebels only were visible as soon as we fired
we lay down & loaded. The enemy returned
the fire with spirit & Corp Higginson
of our Co fell dead shot through the head.
He was the first man to the left of Luther
& I was the first to Luther’s right.
The enemy’s balls were flying thick
over our heads. We rose the 2
nd time
when Col Beach gave the order to charge
bayonet. The Col was behind our Co
& seeing the advantage the rebels had
in their position & the cry of the men
for a charge he gave the order.
With yells head above the roar of
the musketry we rushed forward at
the top of our speed. A few of the
rebels frightened perhaps either by
our noise or at our appearance
fled from the trench but most of
them stood their ground. Most of us
withheld our fire till we stood
face to face with the rebels.
What transpired within a few moments
to after the order to charge was given
I can but with difficulty tell.
So many right before my eyes in
so short a space of time.
Mortal combat, with clubbed muskets
or bayonets, wounded men crying to
yus to spare them
Men raving from
frightful wounds. The gasping of the
dying. The shrieks of the wounded. the
herculean efforts of our men
intent on injuring their adver
sarys more than regardful of their
own safety; all these I saw in
a much time than it takes
me now to think it over.
I know not who was by me,
foe was distinguished from friend only
by uniform. No time to look
a man in the face to tell who
he was. The sight of the destestable
grey clothes showed us our enemys.
From the time the charge was ordered
until the enemy was routed I
can recollect of seeing but one of
our Co still they were all about me
we were together & I think kept a
very good line considering the
brush & trees we had to run among.
I had no chance to see who was
by me. I only knew they were friends.
As I reached the trench I dis
charged my piece among the rebels
which filled it at the same time.
I saw Lieut Gunning strike
down a rebel with his sword
a few yards to my right. While
I saw many rebels fall this was
the only instance that I recognized the
person who gave the blow. The trench
where I reached it was filled with
the dead & dying after we had
discharged our pieces & seeing no
one in it capable or that felt
inclined to make any resistance
I sprang over their bodies to the
opposite side as did most of our
Co. A few rebels not injured by our
balls made a stern resistance
in the trench but they were disposed
of quickly by the bayonets of
our boys. 5 rebels seeing no chance
of escape & certain death before
them made no resistance & were taken
off prisoners. A rod beyond the
ditch & I stood face to face with
a stalwart corporal. A few paries
& friends came rushing forward
the rebel started to run but he
had not taken many steps before
a ball from some one laid him
dead. He fell at the edge of the
ruifle pit about 2 rods to the left of
where I crossed it. The rebels
were noe all fleeing except some
in the trench 6 or 8 rods to our left.
For some reason Co’s A. & F did not charge
as soon as we. I think they had
not heard the order & the rebels to
our left had no one to contend with
in front & we received their fire
which done fearful execution in Co’s
I K C
Thursday morning the 8
th
continued from 2nd sheet
The companys to our left soon
came up while a portion of the 37
th Regt
charged still to the left of them & the
rebels fled along the whole line
The fire from the rebels to our left
after we crossed the trench
& routed the rebels at the point of the bay
onet done us more injury than
all the fire we have before been
under. Our Brave Lieut feel dead
shot through the heart. Wm H. Cowell
fell dead. M.S. Tucker fell mort
ally wounded & here Luther & I both
received our wounds. Col. Beach
fell with a musket ball in his thigh
& was borne off by men from our Co.
The fight was over. & Oh what a picture
I cannot describe it. The rain
commenced pouring down again
night was setting in. The firing
was continued on the right of the
road a short time after it ceased
with us. Luther & I went back to where
our baggage was left. It was
some time after dark before we
reached the place & there we
passed the most disagreeable
night I ever saw drenched
to the skin we passed the
night in our wet clothes with
scarcely no sleep. Morning at last
arrived & the sun rose clear
Sever of us who were able to get
back were here wounded. My wounds
not damaging my power of loco
motion at 9 oclock I set out
alone for the battle field.
As I went over the field where we
fought the day before I found 2
of my comrades dead on ground
where they fell. The body of Lieut
Gunning our boys had removed.
Our Regt was at Williamsburg but they
passed the night in the trench
which they drove the rebels from the
night before Hundreds of dead lay
over the field, the wounded had
been removed. Such a sight I hope
to never witness again. In no place
did I find the dead of the enemy
so thick as where Co C charged
on them. In the trench they
were in some places piled on each
other. A few yards beyond where
we crossed lay a rebel Lieut shot
through the head. 4 rods from where
our brave Lieutenant fell lay the
body of a rebel Colonel shot through
the breast 21 other of the enemy
lay beside him dead. Those whom
I recognized among the dead I attached
to their clothes on a piece
of paper their name Co & Regt.
This was all I could do for them.
They were not buried till the following
day. Of the battle you will hear
before you receive this. The part taken
in it by the 5
th Regt I have given
as best I can. Sickles Brigade
had fought hard before we arrived
but could not rout the enemy.
We had confidence ourselves
confidence in our bayonets
and confidence in our reserve.
The 37
th NY (Irish) Regt were behind us
& a few with us when we charged.
I was mistaken about the position
of the 2
nd Mich they were to the right
of the road & lost in killed &
wounded about 60 men.
The Regt has been repeatedly comp
lamented on its success. Only one
of Co C was wounded with a bayonet
& only one man in the Regt Killed
with the bayonet. The rebels cant
stand the cold steel’ is a truthful
saying. Our Capt is very sick
at Fortress Monroe & we never expect
to see him again. Our first
Lieut is Ajutant of the Regt. Our
Co has now no Com Officer.
The death of our Lieut is deeply
regreted by all. Capt Smith of
Gen Berry’s staff distinguished himself in the fight. He commanded
our Co after our Lieut fell.
E. Franklin
No of killed + wounded in
each Co of the 5
th Reg Mich Vol
in the battle of the 5
th of May
| Co |
Killed |
Wounded |
| A |
9 |
28 |
| F |
7 |
22 |
| D |
3 |
21 |
| I |
5 |
16 |
| C |
4 |
13 |
| H |
0 |
8 |
| E |
3 |
9 |
| K |
0 |
3 |
| G |
1 |
3 |
| B |
0 |
2 |
| Total |
32 |
125 |
Field officers wounded – 2’
Total in killed + wounded in the
Regt. 159
There is more wounded in
proportion to the number killed
than is usual. This was occasioned
by the short distance
between the opposing
forces & the enemy used buck
shot & ball cartridge. The shot
wounding many which otherwise
would have escaped. Many are
wounded slightly & will join the
Regt in a short time.
We expect to leave here in
a few days & follow the rebels.
Our Regt will probably follow
in the road now its numbers
are so decimated by the fight.
Not over 600 men went into the
battle including officers of
these over ¼ are either killed
or wounded. 225 prisoners were brought in
yesterday, we now have a large
number in the village.
Good by for the present,
Your affectionate son
E. Franklin
PS Gen Kearney now
commands this Division in
place of Hamilton who was
relieved from his command
about 10 days ago. It is
understood that there was
some difficulty between him
& McClellan. E.F.
Orderly Sergeant of Co. F was
killed also 2
nd Sergt of Co I
Co’s A I C each lost a
corporal. One Capt + 2 Lieut
wounded + one Lieut Killed
