The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1863-06-12
Letter from Sergeant-EIor Read.

icttei ei"SC "tpt0 YOU iAoiAA Ni"'A Noi''
know YOU must be anxious 10 hear from
me, so will try and write, although the
machinery shakes the boa. SO that it is al
most impossible.
We crossed Black River on the morn
ing Of the 18th, and arrived before Vicks-
burg on the afternoon and evening of the
same day. The enemy's Notifications are
about mile and half from the city, ex-
tending in the form of a semi-circle, from
the river above to the river below the city.
The next morning GRANTS army, consist
ing of three army corps, took up its posi-
ton as near as it could get to the for.ifica-
tons, SHERMAN on the right, McPnERsoN
in the center, and McCLERSSND on the
left. The position Of our brigade was in a
rayine running parallel with the enemy's
| works and about 50 rods from them. To
get into this ravine we had to cross a
ridge under fire, and in doing this the 14lh
lost one man killed and six wounded.
The next two days were spent mostly in
artillery fighting and skrmishing. We
succeeded in disnoun.ing some of their
guns and battering down some Of their for
tifcalions, but as soon as night came on
they would repair all damages.
On the morning Of the 22l a general
charge WAS ordered all around the line, to
be made at 10 o'clock, but through some
mlsmanagement, no attention was paid TO
The time set Our brigade was moved into
another ravine, directly in front of one of
their forts, and not moro than 80 or 40
rods from it. The rebel forts were about
one-fourlh of mile apart and between
them were long trenches filled with their
infantry, who could pour murderous fire
into our men rs they advanced, without
exposing themselves. The space between
US and the rebel works was a broad. but
not very deep. hollow, filled with sIashing
and trees felled with their tops toward us.
We would have to climb and scramble
through all this while under feavy fire
from the fort and ritle-pits in front at close
range, and heavy cross-fre from each
side
Our brigade was ordered to charge
about one o'clock. We started, but as
might have Teen expected, were repulsed.
The 14th got nearer the fort than any 9th
er regimen: in the brigade. The whole
thirg did not last three minutes, but it
was the tloodiest f ght ever was in. We
had 500 men at Shiloh and were under FIRE
nearly all day. and lost about 100 killed
and wounded. We had about 24O in the
charge the other day, and in less than
three minutes lost 1O7 killed and wound
ed.
Twas wounded By a rifle ball Just as we
started. 1t struck my left thumb fret, and
then passed through my left thigh on the
o"s., 80 of the bone, about SIX or eight inch
ss belev the ZIP. It is nothir z but a flesh
wound, and will soon be well, so give your
self no uneasipess about me. l did not
know at first bat I would have to lose ny
thumb, but it is all right nov, and both
wounds ara doing well. Now, mother. |
have told you everything, and don't want
You to think l am hurt worse thai I have
described % you, for have kept back
nothing. | was taken to our regimental
hospital as soon as | was wounded, and
the next dag was sent to the steamer City
Of Memphis, which is now loaded with
wounded and on her way to Memphis =
We are all well cared for.
As my letter may be the first from the
regiment to reach Manitowoc, I will tell
you all know about tie killed and W oun-
ded in Co. "E" Lieut.. Dan. RamsdelI,
wounded severely but not dangerously
struck in the hip with a rifle ball. No
bones were broken, but the ball remained
in. He would have been sent down TO the
ooat with me, only it panied him too much
TO be moved, and Dr. Torrey, our reci-
mental Surgeon, wanted him to remain
under his charge until he could get the
ball out. !. is not a dangerous wound.
Orderly Sergeant 10. Smith was wound
ed severely, and could not be got off the
field. | heard that he was shot through
the breast. bat don't tell his folks 30 if
they come to you.
Sergeant Sam. Stone was wounded Sc
ferelv through the leg, and could not be
got off the field up to the time l was sent
10 the boat.
Sergeant ". 1. Ramsdell, slightly woun
1ed struck by bucksho, on the left side
Of his nose, the shot lodging in the root of
his mouth.
Corp. Frank Engle, slightly struck
near the ankle by bucksho, 1t is not
IS bad wound as the one he got at Cor
nth, and he will be all right for duty in a
week
Il