Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1863-07-07

From the Ga'ena Advertiser, June 3oth.
Interesting Letter Of Captain Miller.

1
the 9th louisiana (colored) Regiment.
Capt. M. is a son of III. w. Miller Esq,
for many years a citizen of Galena. At
the time Of the breaking out Of the rebel
lion he was student in Yale College,
nearly through with his course. He left
his studies, however, and returned home,
enlisted as a private in the celebrated
"Washburne Lead Mine Regiment" from
whence he was taken and made Captain Of
colored company. His statement can
be relied on as literally true, and we yen-
ture to say the history Of the world shows
no more desperate fighting than that done
by his Company at Milhken's Bend. Ev-
cry man but one in bis company was eth
er killed or wounded and many Of them
in hand to hand bayonet charge.
Milnken's Bend, June 10, 1868.
DEAR AUNT:-We were attacked here
June 7th, about 8 o'clock in the morning
by brigade Of Texas troops, about 1900
in number We had about 600 men to
withstand them-500 of hem negroes. /
commanded company /, 9th Louisiana.
We went into the fight with SO men. /
had Is killed and IL badly wounded, 4
slightly. | was wounded slightly on the
head, near the right eye, with a bayonet,
and had bayonet run through my right
hand near the foTe-fnger, that will ae-
count for this miserable style Of penman-
ship.
Our regiment haG about & rec hundred
men in the foht. We had one Colonel
wounded, captains wounded, frs and
2 second Lieutenants killed, 5 l4ieutenants
wounded, and white orderlies killed and
l wounded in the hand and two fingers
taken off. The list Of killed and wounded
officers comprise nearly all the Officers pres
ent with the re giment--a majority Of the
rest being absent recruiting.
We had about so men killed in the reg
iment ard so wounded; so you can Judge
of what part of the fight my company
sustained. / never felt more grieved and
sick at heart than when saw how my
brave soldiers had been slaughtered
with six wounds, all the rest with two or
three, none less than two wounds. Two
of my colored sergeants were killed both
brave noble men, always prompt, yigilant
and ready for the fray. | never more
wish to hear the expressien-"The niger
won't fight" Come with me 100 yards
from where | sit, and | can show you the
wounds that cover the bodies of sixteen as
brave, loyal and patriotic soldiers as ever
drew bead on rebel.
The enemy charged US SO close that we
| IA ,.,;4I, o,,r 1a--Dpatc hand tA hand I
have six broken bayonets to show how
brayely my men fought. The 23d iowa
Joined my company on the right, and J
declare truthfully that they had all fled
before our regiment fell back, as we were
all compelled to do.
Under command Of Colonel Page, led
the 9th and 18th Louisiana VIXEN the
riie,pits were taken and held by our
troops-our two regiments doing the work.
narrowly escaped death once. A reb-
ell took deliberate aim at me with both
barrels Of his gun, and the bullet passed 50
close to me that the powder that remained
on them burned my cheek. Three OF my
men saw him aim and fire, thought that he
wounded me each fire. One Of them vas
killed by my side, and he fell on me, cover
inc nv clothes with his blood, and before
the rebel could fire again blew his brains
out with my gun.
Ii was a horrible fight, the worst | was
ever engaged in--not even excepting Shl-
lob. The enemy cried mo quarter but
some of them were very glad TO take it
when made prisoners.
Col. Allen, Of the 18th Texas, was kill
ed in front Of our regiment, and Brig. Gen.
Walker was wounded. We killed about
$50 of the enemy The gunboat Choetaw
did good service sheiling them. | stood
on the breastworks after we retook them
: and gave the elevations and directions for
tie grfnboat by pointing my sword, and
they sent she'll right into their midst
which sent them in all directions. Three
shell fell there, and G2 rebels lay there
when the fight was over.
My wound is not serious, but trouble
some. What few men | have left seem to
think much Of me because stood up with
them in the fight. | can say for them
that never saw a drawer company Of men
in my life. Not one oil them offered to
leave his place until ordered to fall Dack !;
in fact very few ever did fall back. | went
down to the hospital, three miles, to-day,
to see the wounded. Nine Of them were
there, Two having died of their wounds. A
bow | had cooking for me came and
begged a gun when the rebels wers adj
vancng, and took his place with the com
panv, and when we retook the breastvorks
| found him badly wounded with ore gun
shot and two bayonet wounds. A new re-
: cruit | had issued a gun TO theday before the
: fight was found dead, with firm grasp on
his gun, the bayonet Of which was broken
in three pieces. So they fought and died,
defending the c use that We revere. They
met death cooly. bravely not rashly did
they expose themselves, but all were steady
and obedient to orders.
So God has spared me again through
many dangers: | cannot tell how il was
I aceapad