Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-11-26
Important to the Friends of the los,
o. v. I.
FARNINcrox. Nov. l6. 1862.

FARNINGToN, Nov. 10, 1862.
MesSrs. Editors:-Having just returned
from the battle ground at Perryville
| Chaplin Hill KY, with the remains OF
my son, who was killed in the battle OF
\ Got s, 1862. have no doubt that any
thing pertaining TO the noble dead of the
l05th Regt., will be of much interest TO
the friends at home.
Before ] started for Perryville l was
advised by some, that as our boys were
probably decently buried it would be Just
as well to let them lie at rest. From an
extended observation on that point am
satisfied they have not that decent burial
their friends expect or desire. / wish
now 10 correct an error in the minds of
many, to the effect that the longer the
bodies lie, the more difficult to take them
up. My opinion on that point is this.
The bodies are near the surface Of the
ground and but slightly covered, conse-
tquently they are in a measure exposed to
the action of the atmosphere, therefore
in the course of fortnight they become
in a putrid state, which is the most often
siye, after. remaining in this state about a
week they begin TO dry up and shrivel, so
that in the course of four or FIVE weeks
after burial there is but little left on the
bodies except the skin, hgaments &C.,
and are more dry, hard and firm, conse-
quently very much less offensive.
Nearly all of the I05th who were killed
on the field are buried in long trench
just wide enough to admit two bodies
side by side and lying lengthwise, two
bodies are first laid in, then two more
with their heads to the feet of the first
and so on. 4 T.--lr.- I'd
l made a careful examination of the
trench, copying the initials and marks on
the head boards and by comparing them
with the published list conclude that,
they lie in the following relative positions.
H. Niblock,, Youngstown.
Ii. III. Forbes, Plymouth. t-.
Jacob Ryan, Bristol.
f. T. Bouttin. Mentor.
L. T. Haver, Willoughby.
$. A. Cox, Mesopotamia, taken up. 4
j. Cook, Bloomfield - 81
ID. Nash, Madison, taken up.
A. Miller, Briar Hill. IL.
r Supposed A P Spaulding.
q. st John, Russell.
D. Osborn, Bainbridge.
j. Pugsley, Russo, mo mark discovered.
j. F. Hasley, Southingtoh, no mark
discovered
e. T. Smith, Willoughby.
Z. C. Huston, Willoughby.
II. II. Collar, Mesopotamia, takenu up.
L. c. Butler, Andover. - 80
w. johnson, Painesvslle, taken up.
J. Williams, Briar Hill.
Delos 2. Piper, Lenox.
j. Whiting, Chester. -
w. III. Hale, Hambden
The above may need some correction,
but have made it as near perfect as pos
sible under the circumstances.
If any persons design bringing home
the bodies of their loved ones l will cheer
fully give them any information in my
power either in person or by letter and if
you wish to save money in procuring Cof-
fins call on Messrs Breeden & Bradley,
First Street, between Main and the River,
Louisville, KY, and get double, air tight,
pine collins. There were six of US in
company, two of them paid $26, ,25 for
cofins lined with zinc, and four of us got
the double pine coffins at 5000 and they
prove equal if not superior TO the others.
Yours Respectfully
JAMES D. KENNEDY.
Cleveland Papers please copy.