Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-07-10
H. J. SlIREVE
Letter from the G5tb Regiment.

1UscuMntA. ALABAMA, June II, 1862.
EplroRs or fAnMEn:-Knowing by the past that
you arc always much pleased 10 her from the boys
on the "tcntcd field, and particularly from those
who represent "lIttle llomcs," who, | am well
satisfied receive your warmcst sympathy. Your
devotion to the old Constitution and the Union Of
our Fathers, and your kind regards for those who
arc pcriling their tir lives in the holy cause Of
Constitutional liberty encourages me to trcspnss
on your time and patience in giving an imperfect
outline of our present doings.
From our landing at Pittsburg to Bcaurcgard's IS
evacuation Of Corinth excitement run high among
US. We arrived at Shiloh battle field an the 7th
of April after forced march of nine DAYS and a
night, from Nashville via of Columbia. The last
nights march will never forget The heavens
were hung with black and portcntous clouds, the
lighnings lighted up the heavens as they run their
zigzag course across the gloomy sky; the thundcrs
peeled with consant and terrific fury, and with
the war of tic element came to our ears the sui
len roar of the monster guns sending 70, til their
messengers Of death upon the battle field; the
rain came down in torrents; the small streams were
swollen to huge proportions and we were compel.
led to wade them, in doing which VIC frequently
lost our foothold and fell in the rushing waters
This continued until about daylight, when VIC
were halted, to rest, five miles from Savannah and
fifteen miles from the battle ground. Our march
was resumed after delay of two hours. ATTIC
O'Clock we reach Savannah, where We Fl stbehcld
the fruits the battle then raging. We reached
Pittsburg Landing at . O'Clock, and at We were
formed in line Of battle so quickly ard orderly a.
to Gillette unbounded praise, but it was too late
for us to take much part in the contest
[IIerc the writer gives description of the ficlC
and the retreat which We are compelled to om
for want of room.
On the morning of the Sth we rcconotcred il
force some four miles on the Corinth road w,
discovered that the enemy had retreated in greater
CONSERVATION than was at first supposed. The,
left quite number Of their wounded comrades /.
small tents 10y tie way ;thcy burnt up two of thei
cncnmrmcnts, and large quantity of provisions
clothing, &c. In the afternoon it was dscoycre,
the rebel cavalry was about skrmish took plac
] Ill Wlllt II tnc TODtlS were routed. Our c0mDan
was thrown out as skirmshcrs, by which we 60
a good view oc the cncmy's works, but no chanc
was presented for us to test our shooting irons
The loss our Regiment was small. Soon after thi
while out on picket duty we discovered numbc
r of rebel graves. The corps had been laid on tn
, ground and a few shovcls full of clay thrown Owe
them. Some had been left with their hands an
, feet protrudng. We passed one from which tn
hands were sticking as i! reaching for something
and this produced some merr!ment on the part {
/ our boys, who INDUCED in numerous remarks
l Some said lie was holding out his hand for a lal
warrant; others claimed he was reaching for crac
crs; while it was claimed by some that he wantc
a his script discounted. The boys will have tn,
fun, even OF grave ubjects.
4 would write something of Corinth but III
letter is already too long. The boys of compar
, are Sin good condition" and doing as well
could be expected.
, Yours Truly,
! DAVID RANDOLPH.