Potter, Charles H. – March 14, 1862

Michigan Civil War Collection


Click here for this soldier’s biography: https://micivilwar.com/authors/potter-charles-h/
Regiment: 2nd Michigan Cavalry Battles Mentioned: Historical Figures: New Madrid Mo. March 14th 1862 Dear Father & Mother having a few moments to spare this evening I will try and write a few lines to you. but I feel more like going to bed than any thing else. We are now camped about 2 miles from a place called New Madrid which was held by the secesh yesterday but now the stars & stripes are floating over her [       ?       ] we got [   ?   ] on the 5th day of this month had a pretty tough time traveling I tell you, the boys are all well & in good spirits some of our boys have been out a scouting most evry day since we came here day before yesterday we went out & one of our company shot a rebel & fetched in his gun. one day it was the next day after we got here we went out & the secesh throwed their bomb shells around us thick & fast. our troops planted their guns within one mile of their fort night before last and yesterday morning they opened fire on them they were fight- ing all day untill sun down last night, not a great many killed on either sided, there was one cannon ball that shot the right leg off of three of our men at one clipp that was rather hard. I stood or rather slept untill 12 OC at night last night in the wood within twenty rods of our battery for the purpose of carrying dispa- tches from our guns to the Generals & it rained buck shot I tell you if it dident thunder and lightening why then I wont try to tell. we lay all night expecting to be attached but this morning when we got up the stars and stripes were floating over New Madrid the secesh evacuated their fort & the village leaving some 24 cannon and all their tents & evry thing they had we sank one of their gun boats I saw a secesh buried this morning. the devilish fools left in such a hurry they couldent burry their dead they left an awful site of propperty we trove them off with only four Cannon. they are a darned set of cowards they are afraid to fight give my best respects to all who enquire. Mother need not be alarmed at all on my account because I am all right and calculate to keep so. if the secesh give up as easy as these have we will soon be home I hope so any way it is roll call now and I must close my letter this time give my love to all & Direct your letter Cairo Illinois & it will come right here I should have writen before but it takes a good while for a letter to get started I cant tell when this will go I havent seen a sick day since we left Benton Barrack Good Bye Write Soon                  C.H. Potter C                     C H P