The Portland daily press., 1864-08-13
A Patriotic Letter.

we are permitted 10 publish the following
patriotic letter from young man in the army
to his sister in Gray. 1t breathes the right
spirit, and we trust his near and dear friends
in Gray will imbibe the same spirit and stand
boldly up to the defence of our Government
and Union against all Northern Copperheads
and all Southern traitors. until the glorious
old flag shall float over every inch of our ter
territory.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, July 81, 1864.
Dear Sister-Yours of the 9th inst, reach
ed me by way of Wis. l was very glad TO hear
from you. | am glad indeed you feel SO live
ly an interest in the cause OF our beloved coun-
try-assaiied by traitors at home well as a
qroad. | have seen too much hard service not
To detest CoppeThead from the bottom OF my
heart. And il this Government is ever brok-
en- up it will be the work OF the detested Cop
perhead. 1t pains me to think that while am
lighting to sustain the Government, | have
near friends in the town OF Gray, the home of
my happy childhood and the place to which
my thoughts in later years have oft in pleasure
wandered, who are doing all they can to break
it up. This rebellion would have been crush
ed long ago, had it not been Tor traitors at
home.
Could you go with me to the battlefield and
Freely, cheertully, offering up their lives, look
aug death calmly In the face, and then tell me
you blame me for despising the sneaking COW
rdly Copperhead, who would submit TO any
thing, no matter how humble, rather than fight?
And then TO excuse themselves they say it is
IN abolition war and Il will not fight TO free
the niggers," and for fear they may be forced
20 fight, vote to have the war stopped let the
consequences to the country be what they
nay. The negroes are saints compared with
such. They will fight. and fight desperately
We have a negro brigade with us that did
good fighting on our last expedition. / never
before believed they would fight so well. Fort
Pillow was their cry, and many Reb. bit the
dust with Fort Pillow ringing in his ears.
On the morning OF the 5th of July we left
our lue OF communication and marched to cut
the Ohio aud Mobile Railroad. We marched
about ninety miles, often fianking the enemy,
TO avoidihghting him in his chosen position,
ill we arrived near Tupelo where bloody
cattle was fought on the l4th of July, in which
jur brigade took conspicuous part Gen. A.
]. Smith had managed to get good position
IN hill on the night of the of 18th after RAP
I'd march of Is miles, arriving there at 0 p. NJ +.
We were called up up at 3 A. NJ TO make ready
or the fight. The enemy was reported ad-
Sancing in force. Our troops were soon on
IN the move, getting into position. After some
i've or six other regiments, was ordered up to
support the main battery on the hill where it
vas expected the hardest fighting would be
lone. As soon as we had got our position, |
vas ordered forward with my company to
kirmish with the enemy, now plainly seen ad-
vancing in three lines OF battle advanced
10 our picket line, deployed my men and NOV
ed forward and was soon engaged in corn
ield on the bottom. There was no faltering,
40 hanging back; all were eager for the fight
We continued TO advance. firing rapidly till
my Lieut., whom / had instructed to watch
my left flank, I've could not see but a short
distance in the cornl informed me that the
skirmishers on my left had fallen back and that
we were being flanked, when fell back slow
| ~, firing as fast as my men could load their
pieces. The enemy were making a charge,
and the air was thick with cannon shot over
| my head. fell back nearly TO our line and
formed on the right as fiankers. The charge
was repulsed with great slaughter. But the
enemy rallied and came on again with the
| same success. Our force supporting the bat
| teres was now ordered to charge which was
axecuted in gallant style, and the enemy was
driven from the field. When the charge on
| our part commenced, | was ordered forward
| with several other skirmish companies to take
| aud hold hill which the enemy occupied
| The order was successfully executed after a
sharp skirmish. Our main force fell back TO
their former position and | remained about a
| mile in front to watch the movement of the en-
envy. He formed behind point of timber,
| threw few shell at my skirmish line, then fell
| back into the timber. The fight lasted from
| six O'Clock in the morning till ten In front
| of our little force, less than 5000, supporting
the battery on the hill, lay about 300 dead
| rebs and 1875 wounded which the enemy had
been unable to remove during the fight, tho
they were carrying off their dead and wound
| ed nearly all the time. The hardest part OF
the fighting was done here. The whole force
ofrebels under Forest Sas about $4,000 and ours
about the same. They acknowledge a loss in
! killed and wounded OF 2400, but think it was
| greater Our whole loss in this fight in killed
| and wounded was less than 400. Forest was
wounded, his brother, a Colonel, and his son.
| Captain were killed. Gen. Faulkner was
| also killed. We had fight on the 18Th and
18th, IN which l took an active part. but have
neither time or space to give a further account
| l am in hopes shall have chance to rest
tomorrow, before commencing another long
aud weary march through the heat and dust.
Lshould rejoice to hear that all my near and
| dear friends were active supporters OF the Ad-
ministration in its efforts to put down the re-
bellion. Then it would be so pleasa ant to make
visit to Maine when this war is over and our
Union restored.
Your afectionate brother,
GEORGE II. FRANK.