, 1863-07-03

Interesting Letter of Captain
Miller.


From the Galena Adve1tiser.1
We publish below q very interesting letter
from Capt N. II. Miller Of this city, Of the
9th Louisiana (coloredl regiment:
Capt n. is u son Of =. " Miller, ESQ.,, tor
many years citizen Of Galena. At the time
Of the breaking cut of the rebellion he was Il
student In Tale College, nearly through with
his course He left his studies, however, and
returned home, enlisted rs private In the
celebrated "Washburne Lead Mine Rcgl.
ment," from whence he was taken and made
Captain Of colored company; His state.
NC venture to say the history Of the world
shows no more desperate fighting than that
done by his company at Nillken's Bend.
Every man but one in his company was either
killed or wounded, and many Of them In a
landto hand bayonet struggle.
M1111KEs's BEND, June 10, 1863.
DEAF AuST:-Wc we're attacked here June
7th, about 5 O. o'clock in the morning BY brig
ade of Texas troops, about 500 in number.
Ne had about Geo men to withstand them
500 OF them negroes. commanded company
I, 9th Louisiana. We went into the light
with IS meu. I had 1G killed and II badly
wounded, I slightly. vas wounded ,t,1{ slightly
and had bayonet run through my right hand
near the fo1e-tinger, that will account for this
miserable style Of penmanship:
Our regiment had about 800 men in tho
fight. We had one Colonel wounded, four
Captains wounded, two 1st and two ed Lieu
three white orderlies killed, and one wound
ed in the hand and two fingers take of. Tho
list of killed and wounded officers comprise
nearly all the officers present with the regi-
ment-a majority Of the rest being absent re.
crnitiug.
We had about fifty men killed in the regi.
ment and eighty wounded; so you eau judge
Of what part Of the fghtmy company sustain
cd. I never felt more grieved and sick ut
heart than when saw how my brave soldiers
had been slaughtcrcd-o with six wounds,
al the rest With two OF three, none less than
two wounds. Two Of my colored Sergeauts
were killed, both braye noble men, always
prompt, yigilant and ready for the fray. I
never more wish to hear the expression
"Thc niggers won't 1ght.' Come with me
100 yards from where sit, and I can show
you the wounds that cover the bodies Of slx-
teen as brave, loyal and patriotic soldiers as
ever drew bead on rebel.
The enemy charged us eo close that We
fought with our bayonets, hand to hand. I
have six broken bayonets to show how brayely
my men fought. The Esd Iowa Joined my
company on Tie right, and declare truthful1y
that they had all fled before our regiment tell
back, as We were all compelled to do.
Under command Of Col. Page, led the 9th
and 18th Louisiana when the riie-pits we're
Aenls doing the work.
I narrowly escaped death once. A rebel
took deliberate aim at me with both barrels
Of his gun, nnd the bullets passed SO Gloss to
me thut the powder that remained on them
burned my cheek. Three Of my men who
saw him aim aud tire, thought that he woun-
ded me each fire. Oce OF 1acm was killed by
my side, and he fell on MT, covering my
clothes with his blood, and before the rebel
could fire again blew lis brains out with my
gun.
It was a horrible fight, the worst was ever
engaged in-not even excepting Shiloh. The
them were vcry glad to take it when made
Col. Allen, Of the 18th Texas, was killed In
front Of our regiment, and Brig. Gen. Walker
was wounded. We killed about $50 Of the
enemy. The gnnboat Choctaw did good SER
vice shc]lipg them. stood on the breast
works after We retook them, and gave the
elevations and dirt ction for the gunboat BY
pointing my sword, and they fired shell
tight III. o their midst which sent them in all
directions. Three shell fell there, aud sixty
two rebels lay there when the light wals
over.
My wound is not serious, hut troublesome.
What few men have left seem to think much
of n,e because I stood up with thrIn in the
tight. can say for them that never saw a
b:aver company of men in my life. Not one
ct them offered TO leave his place until order
ca 10 fill back; in fact very few ever did I'LL
back. I WENT down to the hospital, three
miles, today, to see the wounded. Nine Of
THIN were there, two having died Of their
wounds. A boy Ind cooking for nc came
and begged gun when the rebels were ad-
yancing, and took his place with he company,
and when We retook the brcastworks found
him badly wounded with one gunshot and
two bayo1et wounds. 4 new recruit I had
i:sucd gun to the Gay before the fight, wus
found dead, with a firm grasp Oh. his gun, the
bay oEet Of which WAS broken in three pieces.
So they fought ind died, defending the cause
that we revere They met death cody brave
1y;-not rasb]y did they expose themselves,
but all were steady and obcdient to orders.
So God has spaTcd me again through many
dangers. I cannot tell how It was escaped.
Your afleetionate nerhew.
u, N. MILLER.