Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1863-02-17
Army Letter from one who saw Lieut Col McKee tall On
the Battle Field.


By request we publish part of the fol-
lowing letter, written by Mr.. ]. II. Racksr-
by Of Potosi to his sister; date Of letter,
near Murfreesl orc, Jan. goth, '6S:
aLsaw Lieut.. Col. Mckee when he fell
lit was about 30 yards from me in cot
ton field, and started to 90 to him, when
met his Colonel who told me he was
dead, ana ordered me to get away from
there, as the enemy were pressing us very
close. We could almost see the white OF
their eyes, and shot, Ahel, canister, grape
and ball, were flying thicker than | ever
saw hail, and our men fell by scores. just
before the fight began on the Both, Gel.
Mckee told mo thai if he and his Colonel
were killed, to see that his remains were
sent home, and he then offered me his
money and watch to keep for him, but |
told him that wanted to be in the engage
Inent, and would if | got the chance. | adj
vised him to give them To his surgeon,
which he did, keeping his watch himself.
On the night Of the 30th, | saw and con-
rersed with him again. He said trait if
they went into the fight the next day, lie
would 90 foot, as there was more danger
on horseback so he gave his horse to his
Ostler saw him early next morning
trying to rally his scattered men, and as
he passed me remarked: Joe, God bless
you, are you yetsafe this beats Bull Run J"
saw him 40 more nnti about s o'clock,
when was trying toru IN wagon load
of ammunition and had just finished issue
ing, when the lines fell back TO where |
was, having had to retreat across large
corn and cotton field Exposed to a rakipg
fire from three directions, our Lieut.. fell
and was ordered to take command of the
company, the Captain having been wound
ed the evening before. Here / shook
Col. Dane by the hand and started for my
command, when | turned my head and
saw him (McKee,) throw his hand 10
his head and fall. This was the last | saw
of him until after the rebels had evacuated,
when got permission to go over the field.
Lieut.. Col. Mckee was the first man |
came to. When examined him, | found
that the ball had passed direct through the
brain, which must have caused instant
death. When / found him he was strip
ped of all his clothes except his under
clothes, as were all the officers who fell
into their hands, / then procured a
stretcher and had him taken to the hospital
where / met with his Col and Major who
said he was going to send his remains
nome. then proposed to have him
washed and dressed, but the Colonel said
that their Head Quarter wagon had been
captured and burned the previous evening
with all their effects. then tried to put
my coat on him but it was too small, so
Col. Heg said he would take his remains
to Nashville and there get suitable shroud-
ing for him. The next day the Colonel
took them to Nashville, where | supposed
he would do as he promised.
The loss Of Col. Mckee is deeply felt by
our division. TO say that he was brave
would be saying too little. suffice to say
that in his death our country has lost one
Of its brayest heroes. He fell while rally
ing his men around our glorious old flag,
in the thickest of the fight, crying "saVe
our cotors 6oys,p which was then cut to
ribbons.