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Regiment: 3rd Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Camp of the Mich Cav.
Corinth Miss
Oct 21
st 1863
Aunt Sophia:
I do not know but you will think I have forgotten you it si so long since I
have written to you but such is not the case. I received your welcome letter in due time
and should have answered long ago but since its reception I have been almost constantly
in the saddle and have hardly had time or opportunity to drop a line to even my wife and
when I did get a chance to write could only say all well and
[ ? ]. You have
[ ? ]
this read of Chalamers and Richardsons said on the
[ ? ] RR and have learned that they
met with a severe repulse. Well the 3
rd took an active part in driving them back to the
south side of the Tallahatchie river. I cannot give a full description of the who scout and
all the accompanying fights and skirmishes for my time and space forbids. I will content
myself by giving you a kind of idea of the battle of Wyatt fought at the village of Wyatt
on the north bank of the Tallahatchie river on the 13
th [ ? ]. Just at the commencement
of the battle there arose a terrific thunderstorm accompanied by rain and hail. It was the
hardest hail storm I have witnessed for many years. And the loud thunder burst forth
peals on peal as if the artillery of heaven was about to hurl down its bolts of destruction
on the heads of the combatants below as though it would show the anger of the almighty
at the bloody scene that was being enacted. But notwithstanding the wild roar of the
surrounding elements there was a war no less fierce and far more deadly between the
contending forces. The rattle of the musketry and sharp crack of our revolving rifles and
the roar of the artillery mingling with the sullen rumble of the receding storm made the
scene at once grand sublime and awful and it will not soon be erased from the memories
of the thousands who participated in it. Every inch of the ground was hotly contested.
But it was in vain the rebels charged on our battery. They were met by a storm of riffle
balls that caused them to beat a hasty retreat. In vain they tried to turn first our left and
then our right. They could not do it. Slowly and steadily but surely did our contracting
lines draw nearer together like some huge monster encircling the enemy in its folds. Not
a man faltered not a soldier wavered but on we pressed closer and still more close to the
despairing foe. At each discharge of the artillery by the guns were advanced a few steps
under the cover of the smoke that now hung over the field as a dense slphurous canopy.
Night dark and gloomy settled down upon the scene but still the combat raged. The flash
of the guns lighted the surrounding landscape with a lurid glare that barely served to
make the darkness visible. At least there came a lull in the firing and finally it entirely
ceased and our tired weary wet war worn veterans rested on their arms. For two long
hours did they stand there in the chilling air with garments saturated with the drenching
storm that had now passed away and left here and there a twinkling star in sight. How
anxiously did we await “further orders”. At last was heard the thrilling tones of the
bugle ringing over the bloody battle field and sounding through the gloomy forests
blowing the notes of the “Recall” and announcing to us that the last armed rebel had been
driven over the stream and that our victorious forces held undisputed possession of the
town. Never were the notes of that well known call more welcome to weary soldiers.
Joyfully we tramped back through the thick sticky mud to our led horses with light hearts
in our
[ ? ]. We had met the enemy and won the victory and in view of this all our
sufferings and hardships were as naught.
So much for the battlefield. If you think my short description of a battle scene and it is
truthful one worthy of a place in the columns of the reflector and Mr.
[ ? ] chooses to
put it in why let it go in with my name at the bottom. I never wrote anything I was
ashamed of. I am in the injoyment of excellent health and hope these few lines will find
you and all the rest of the friend in the same condition. Give my respects Uncles and
Aunts and Cousins.
Write soon and obley’s
Your Nephew
O.M.Rowland
Leomuth Miss
P.S. I was much rejoiced at the result of the Ohio election. What will the
[ ? ] do now.
