The daily clarion. [volume] (Meridian, Miss.) 1863-1866, 1864-06-13
c.an. N. 4. IrarrIa, nrIsade

Since our article Of June "a, IN reia-
ton to the participation Of the Mssissip,
nj troops in the battle OF the Wilderness
and spottsylvania Court House, we have
been furnished with extracts from april
vate letter written by an officer OF the
10th Mississippi and also from one writ
ten by a private in the 4sth, both in tho
brigade of Gen, Harris. The letters re-
late chiefly to the great battle Of the l2th
Of May, and are confined to the part
taken by this Brigade; The first writes
as follows: M
ave have thus far repulsed every. at
tack Of the enemy, and the casualties Of
our1. brigade have been very heavy, for
we participated in some Of the most
daring charges that havebeen made. Az
onetme Gen. Davis brigade was sur,
rounded and cut off, when Gen. Lee or
dered US to charge the enemy. We drove
them back about q mile, capturing many
prisoners, among them Colonel, who
commanded the regiment that sacked
Jackson. now wear his sword belt
This fight occurred at the Wilderness,
near Charlottesville, where our whole
army was engaged, and so great was the
mortality among the Yankees, that you
could almost walk for miles on their dead
bodies. Grant, finding it impossible to
drive US back AZ this point, attempted to
turn our right flank by rapidly moving
in the direction of Spottsylvania Court
House, but when his columns arrived,
they discovered alinc Of rebels cor front.
ing them, prepared to give them battle.
They charged our position repeatedly
without success until the morning of the
18th, when they succeeded in surprising
Gen. Johnson's division, and driving them
from the works. Our brigade, with oth-
ers, was called upon TO retake the works,
and ii proved one Of the hardest tasks,
that human beings ever undertook. We
succeeded in, recapturing the works as
far as our brigade extended, leaving the
Yankees in possession ofthe sametrench-
es for three oil four hundred yards on our
right, and here we fought from o'clock
A. NJ. on tho 18th, until about 5 A.
NJ. on the 18th, without five minutes cess
sation Of musketry. The minnie balls
cut down trees one saaa two feet thick
Col. Baker. Lieut.. Col. Feltus, our Adju-
liant and our Ensign, were killed. The
loss in our regiment was $50 killed
wounded and missing. Total up TO this
time 175.
The other writesas follows: tour di-
vision was.in reserve, to be sent where wei
were most needed. Al daylight on the
18th, some Of our troops were surprised
and driven from their works, and three
brigades from one division were sent for
to recapture the works, viz: Oars, Per-
rims Alabama, and ppfry's Flo.ida. We
were in advance, and were marching at
douJle quick, in four ranks, with Gen.
Lee at our head. Gen. Harris begged |
him for Gods sake to 60 back, or ha
would be killed. The old man shook his
head, and said lie would 90 back on one
to-wit: That we would drive
the enemy from our works. We gave a
sheeras he rode down the line with tears
n his eyes The shells were lying like
lail around us, button we went in four
'anl<s, when suddenly the enemy opened ]
! terrible fire onsus. We had no time to
orm lineaot battle, but we made the
harge, pell nell, every man for himself /,
nd soon drove out the Yankees, and oc-
upied the works. never saw bullets
y thicker, and do not see how any of us {
scaped being shot to pieces. We suffer-
d very heavily. The brigade went in /
18th 1850, and lost $50. After we had {
cen engaged some time, the troops on /
ur right gave way, and for sixteen hours
e were under the most CALLING cross fire
nat troops were ever exposed to. Atlf
ne time the Yankees planted their col c
IS on our works, but one or two well 0
irected volleys drove them back with :,
aayy loss. Most Of the fighting was ;
me with musketry, and it was one con h
nued roar from eight O'Clock on Thurs 9
y morning until four o'clock on Friday e
orning. ! never heard Of fighting all !,
ght before. IT. Col. Manloyo was s
bundled on the 9th at Wilderness. Lit. el
'leman says Gen. Humphreys brigade e
IS in the thickest Of the fight, and Z,
fEered seveyely." h,
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